What does Ethos mean?

What exactly does Ethos mean?  Wikipedia states that "Ethos  is an English word based on a Greek word and denotes the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, a nation or an ideology. Its use in rhetoric is closely based on the Greek terminology used by Aristotle."  So Ethos is really the "beliefs" of people.  This now makes more sense to me on the assignment that we were assigned, the "Ethos" and "This is what ye shall do."  It is just explaining your beliefs on how you should live.