orthography en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- ôrthäʹgrəfē (General-American)
- /ɔːˈθɒɡɹəfi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ɔɹˈθɑɡɹəfi/ (General-American)
- (General-American) audio
Etymology
The noun is derived from Late Middle English ortografie, ortographie (“spelling”) [and other forms], and then either: * from Anglo-Norman ortografie, Middle French orthographie, ortografie, ortographie (“correct spelling; orthographic projection”) (compare Old French ortografie; modern French orthographe (“spelling, orthography”), orthographie (“orthographic project, orthography”)); or * from their etymon Latin orthographia (“correct spelling; building elevation”), from Koine Greek ὀρθογραφία (orthographía, “correct spelling”), from Ancient Greek ορθο- (ortho-, prefix meaning ‘right, proper; upright’) (from ὀρθός (orthós, “straight; erect, upright; correct, true”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃erdʰ- (“to grow, increase; high; upright”)) + -γραφίᾱ (-graphíā, suffix meaning ‘drawing; writing’) (from γρᾰ́φω (grắphō, “to cut into, scratch; to write”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- (“to carve”)). The English word is analyzable as ortho- (prefix meaning ‘proper, right; straight’) + -graphy (suffix denoting something written or otherwise represented in a specified manner, or about a specified subject). The verb is derived from the noun. First use appears before c. 1460. Cognates * Catalan ortografia * Italian ortografia * Portuguese ortografia, orthografia (obsolete) * Spanish ortografía
Meanings
-
(countable) A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling.
Then the Bay tried me vvith a ſecond VVord, much harder to be pronounced; but reducing it to the Engliſh Orthography, may be ſpelt thus, Houyhnhnms.
1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Sets out as Captain of a Ship. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 170:The Licencer indeed, as his autority novv ſtands, may licence much; but if theſe Greek Orthographies vvere of his licencing; the boyes at School might reck'n vvith him at his Grammar.
1645 March 14 (Gregorian calendar), J[ohn] M[ilton], Colasterion: A Reply to a Nameles Answer against The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce. […], [London?]: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 3:In the colonial era there were two major competing orthographies for rendering words from Indian languages, the ‘Jones system,’ based on the spelling in the original language and requiring a substantial application of diacritics, and the ‘Gilchrist system,’ based on pronunciation and requiring less diacritics.
2018, James Lambert, “Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination of Hobson-Jobson”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 31, number 4, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, →DOI, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 491:The Eisteddvod has not, however, been altogether inactive,—we are indebted to it for presenting us with several excellent prize compositions, both in poetry and prose; and as the subject of one of its essays, viz. that on Welsh orthography, is of peculiar interest to the Welsh writers of the present day, I have thought proper to select it for my present treatise, that I might offer a few observations upon it, and so become instrumental, if possible, in establishing the orthography of our language.
1829, John Jones, A Defence of the Reformed System of Welsh Orthography: […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] S. Collingwood, printer to the University, for the author, →OCLC, page 4:
- (countable, qualifier:more broadly) A set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, capitalization, emphasis, hyphenation, punctuation, and word breaks.
-
(uncountable) The aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words; the study of spelling.
Not only the ſeveral Towns and Countries^([sic – meaning Counties]) of England, have a different way of pronouncing, but even here in London they clip their Words after one Manner about the Court, another in the City, and a third in the Suburbs; and in a few Years, it is probable, will all differ from themſelves, as Fancy or Faſhion ſhall direct: All which, reduced to Writing, would entirely confound Orthography.
1712 March 4 (date written; Gregorian calendar), J[onathan] Swift, A Proposal for Correcting, Improving and Ascertaining the English Tongue; […], 2nd edition, London: […] Benj[amin] Tooke, […], published 1712, →OCLC, page 23:
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(uncountable) Correct spelling according to established usage; also (obsolete) pronunciation according to the spelling of a word.
[A]nother [critic] has vovvde to get the conſumption of the lungues, or to leue to poſteritie the true orthography and pronunciation of laughing: […]
1604 (date written), Iohn Marston [i.e., John Marston], Parasitaster, or The Fawne, […], London: […] T[homas] P[urfoot] for W[illiam] C[otton], published 1606, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i:I abhor ſuch phanaticall phantaſims, ſuch inſociable and poynt deuiſe companions, ſuch rackers of ortagriphie, as to ſpeake dout ſine, when he ſhould ſay doubt; […]
c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 136, column 1:As this VVay of booriſh Speech is in Ireland called the Brogue upon the Tongue, ſo here 'tis named Jouring, It is not poſſible to explain this fully by VVriting, becauſe the Difference is not ſo much in the Orthography, as in the Tone and Accent; […]
1742, [Daniel Defoe], “Letter VI. Containing a Description of the County of Dorset, Part of Somersetshire, Devonshire, Cornwall, &c.”, in A Tour thro’ the Whole Island of Great Britain. […], 3rd edition, volume I, London: […] J[ohn] Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 303:This word [plaid] is erroneously pronounced plad, the proper pronunciation (according to the Scotch) is shewn by the Orthography.
1807, George Gordon, Lord Byron, “[Fugitive Pieces.] Lachin y. Gair.”, in Hours of Idleness, a Series of Poems, Original and Translated, Newark [Nottinghamshire?]: […] S. and J. Ridge; […], published 1807, →OCLC, footnote *, page 130:If this Letter fail either in point of Orthography or Style, you muſt impute the firſt to the tumbling potſure my Body vvas in at the vvriting hereof, being a Shipboard, the ſecond the muddineſs of my Brain, vvhich like Lees in a narrovv Veſſel, hath been ſhaken at Sea in divers Tempeſts near upon forty days, […]
1621 May 14 (Gregorian calendar), James Howell, “XXVII. To My Brother Dr. Howel, from a Shipboard before Venice.”, in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren. […], 3rd edition, volume I, London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], published 1655, →OCLC, section I, page 37:
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(countable) A form of projection used to represent three-dimensional objects in two dimensions, in which all the projection lines are orthogonal or perpendicular to the projection plane; an orthographic projection, especially when used to draw an elevation, vertical projection, etc., of a building; also (obsolete) a drawing made in this way.
Ichnography, by vvhich vve are to underſtand the very firſt Deſign and Ordinance of a VVork or Edifice, […] To this ſucceeds Orthography, or the erect elevation of the ſame in face or front deſcrib'd in meaſure upon the former Idea […]
1664, John Evelyn, “An Account of Architects & Architecture, together with an Historical, and Etymological Explanation of Certain Tearms Particularly Affected by Architects”, in Roland Freart [i.e., Roland Fréart de Chambray], translated by John Evelyn, A Parallel of the Antient Architecture with the Modern, […], London: […] Tho[mas] Roycroft, for John Place, […], →OCLC, part, page 122:
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(countable, obsolete) Synonym of orthographer (“someone knowledgeable in spelling rules”).
[H]e vvas vvoont to ſpeake plaine, and novv is he turnd ortography, his vvords are a very fantaſticall banquet, iuſt ſo many ſtrange diſhes: […]
1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| orthographies | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
oblique projection · cacography
Coordinates
Deriveds
orthographically · orthographic · orthographist · orthographize · orthographer · orthographical · dysorthography · orthographise
Relateds
orthograph · orthology · orthodoxy
Synonyms
Translations (225)
sl ortografija (correct spelling according to established usage) · mk ортографија (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · ceb ortograpiya (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · cmn 拼寫法 /拼写法 (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ja スペリング (correct spelling according to established usage) · es ortografía (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ms ejaan (correct spelling according to established usage) · lt rašyba (correct spelling according to established usage) · vi phép chính tả (correct spelling according to established usage) · ja オーソグラフィー (correct spelling according to established usage) · sk pravopis (correct spelling according to established usage) · nb ortografi (correct spelling according to established usage) · hi हिज्जे (correct spelling according to established usage) · ru орфогра́фия (correct spelling according to established usage) · mk правопис (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · de Orthographie (correct spelling according to established usage) · fa-ira دُرُسْتنِویسی (correct spelling according to established usage) · mk правопис (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · izh orfografia (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · pon koasoandi en nting (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · gl ortografía (correct spelling according to established usage) · ps ليکدود (correct spelling according to established usage) · my စာလုံးပေါင်းသတ်ပုံ (correct spelling according to established usage) · mn зөв бичих зүй (correct spelling according to established usage) · ky тууражазым (correct spelling according to established usage) · id ortografi (correct spelling according to established usage) · ps رسم الخط (correct spelling according to established usage) · uk право́пис (correct spelling according to established usage) · ru орфогра́фия (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · yi אָרטאָגראַפֿיע (correct spelling according to established usage) · bg правопи́с (set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, capitalization, emphasis, hyphenation, punctuation, and word breaks) · hy ուղղագրություն (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ps املا (correct spelling according to established usage) · da retskrivning (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · mi kaupapa tātaki-kupu (set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, capitalization, emphasis, hyphenation, punctuation, and word breaks) · ga ortagrafaíocht (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · tr yazım (correct spelling according to established usage) · bg ортогра́фия (correct spelling according to established usage) · sh prȁvopīs (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · sh ortogràfija (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · cmn 正字學 /正字学 (correct spelling according to established usage) · pt ortografia (correct spelling according to established usage) · tr imla (correct spelling according to established usage) · ru правописа́ние (correct spelling according to established usage) · nb rettskrivning (correct spelling according to established usage) · ga ortagrafaíocht (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · hi वर्तनी (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ko 맞춤법 (set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, capitalization, emphasis, hyphenation, punctuation, and word breaks) · ru спе́ллинг (correct spelling according to established usage) · pl ortografia (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ug ئىملا (correct spelling according to established usage) · ka ორთოგრაფია (correct spelling according to established usage) · ja 正書法 (correct spelling according to established usage) · de Rechtschreibung (correct spelling according to established usage) · be арфагра́фія (correct spelling according to established usage) · ar عِلْم الْإِمْلَاء (correct spelling according to established usage) · mk правопис (correct spelling according to established usage) · sv ortografi (correct spelling according to established usage) · pl ortografia (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · tk orfografiýa (correct spelling according to established usage) · ca ortografia (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · da ortografi (correct spelling according to established usage) · ko 표기법 (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · ru правописа́ние (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · cmn 拼寫 /拼写 (correct spelling according to established usage) · my ရေးထုံး (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · mk ортографија (correct spelling according to established usage) · fi ortografia (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ar تَهْجِئَة (correct spelling according to established usage) · cmn 拼寫法 /拼写法 (correct spelling according to established usage) · de Rechtschreibung (set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, capitalization, emphasis, hyphenation, punctuation, and word breaks) · cmn 拼字 (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ja スペル (correct spelling according to established usage) · bg правопи́с (correct spelling according to established usage) · th อักขรวิธี (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · gd litreachadh (correct spelling according to established usage) · tg коидаҳои хат (correct spelling according to established usage) · tl palabaybayan (correct spelling according to established usage) · is staffræði (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · tl palatitikan (correct spelling according to established usage) · ky орфография (correct spelling according to established usage) · vi chính tả (correct spelling according to established usage) · ur اِمْلا (correct spelling according to established usage) · hy ուղղագրություն (correct spelling according to established usage) · ur ہِجّے (correct spelling according to established usage) · lv ortogrāfija (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · uz imlo (correct spelling according to established usage) · he אוֹרְתּוֹגְרַפְיָה (form of projection used to represent three-dimensional objects in two dimensions, in which all the projection lines are orthogonal or perpendicular to the projection plane) · nl spelling (correct spelling according to established usage) · fi oikeinkirjoitus (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · cmn 寫法 /写法 (correct spelling according to established usage) · sv rättstavning (correct spelling according to established usage) · hu helyesírás (correct spelling according to established usage) · ja 正字法 (correct spelling according to established usage) · az orfoqrafiya (correct spelling according to established usage) · sh ортогра̀фија (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · nn ortografi (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · fa-ira رَسْماُلْخَطّ (correct spelling according to established usage) · de Orthografie (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · tg расмулхат (correct spelling according to established usage) · ka მართლწერა (correct spelling according to established usage) · th อักขรวิธี (correct spelling according to established usage) · tl ortograpiya (correct spelling according to established usage) · kmr vekît (correct spelling according to established usage) · nb rettskriving (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · is réttritun (correct spelling according to established usage) · fr orthographe (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · sw tahajia (correct spelling according to established usage) · ru спе́ллинг (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · gl ortografía (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · gd litreachadh (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · ceb ortograpiya (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ur عِلْمُ الْتَہَجّی (correct spelling according to established usage) · fi oikeinkirjoitusoppi (correct spelling according to established usage) · et ortograafia (correct spelling according to established usage) · lv ortogrāfija (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · ro ortografie (correct spelling according to established usage) · lv pareizrakstība (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ko 받침법 (correct spelling according to established usage) · nb rettskrivning (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ia orthographia (correct spelling according to established usage) · cmn 拼字 (correct spelling according to established usage) · nn rettskriving (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · da retskrivning (correct spelling according to established usage) · pl pisownia (correct spelling according to established usage) · sl pravopís (correct spelling according to established usage) · sw otografia (correct spelling according to established usage) · da retskrivning (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · fa-ira اِمْلا (correct spelling according to established usage) · ja 綴り (correct spelling according to established usage) · eo ortografio (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · my အသတ် (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · de Rechtschreibkunde (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · pap ortografia (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · el ορθογραφία (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ar هِجَاء (correct spelling according to established usage) · sh ortogràfija (correct spelling according to established usage) · be пра́вапіс (correct spelling according to established usage) · ca ortografia (correct spelling according to established usage) · fi oikeinkirjoitus (correct spelling according to established usage) · pt ortografia (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · fi oikeinkirjoitusjärjestelmä (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · sh ортогра̀фија (correct spelling according to established usage) · da ortografi (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · gl ortografía (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · ru орфогра́фия (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · de Orthografie (correct spelling according to established usage) · uz orfografiya (correct spelling according to established usage) · ka მართლწერა (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · sk ortografia (correct spelling according to established usage) · el ορθογραφία (correct spelling according to established usage) · fi ortografia (correct spelling according to established usage) · ka ორთოგრაფია (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · ar إِمْلَاء (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · fr orthographe (correct spelling according to established usage) · cmn 正詞法 /正词法 (correct spelling according to established usage) · mi kaupapa tātaki-kupu (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · ga ortagrafaíocht (correct spelling according to established usage) · fo rættskriving (correct spelling according to established usage) · mk ортографија (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · sh пра̏вопӣс (correct spelling according to established usage) · sh prȁvopīs (correct spelling according to established usage) · nl spelling (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · ca ortografia (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · kk орфография (correct spelling according to established usage) · gd litreachadh (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · sh ортогра̀фија (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · sq drejtshkrim (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · es ortografía (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · nn rettskriving (correct spelling according to established usage) · enm ortographie (correct spelling according to established usage) · ka მართლწერა (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · sh ortogràfija (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · fr orthographe (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · pt ortografia (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · az imla (correct spelling according to established usage) · nb rettskriving (correct spelling according to established usage) · ms ortografi (correct spelling according to established usage) · bn লিখনবিধি (correct spelling according to established usage) · cmn 正字法 (correct spelling according to established usage) · uk орфогра́фія (correct spelling according to established usage) · lt ortografija (correct spelling according to established usage) · he אוֹרתוֹגְרָפִיָה (correct spelling according to established usage) · de Schreibweise (set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, capitalization, emphasis, hyphenation, punctuation, and word breaks) · hi वर्तनी (correct spelling according to established usage) · ms eja (correct spelling according to established usage) · lo ອັກຂະລະວິທີ (correct spelling according to established usage) · ug ئورفوگرافىيە (correct spelling according to established usage) · cmn 正寫法 /正写法 (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · ja 綴り字 (correct spelling according to established usage) · de Orthographie (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · nn ortografi (correct spelling according to established usage) · fi oikeinkirjoitusoppi (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · ko 철자법 (correct spelling according to established usage) · uk ортогра́фія (correct spelling according to established usage) · sq ortografi (correct spelling according to established usage) · nl spelling (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · sh prȁvopīs (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · yo àkọtọ́ (correct spelling according to established usage) · ceb ortograpiya (correct spelling according to established usage) · cs ortografie (correct spelling according to established usage) · es ortografía (correct spelling according to established usage) · ar إِمْلَاء (correct spelling according to established usage) · kmr imla (correct spelling according to established usage) · kk емле (correct spelling according to established usage) · lv ortogrāfija (correct spelling according to established usage) · ko 맞춤법 (correct spelling according to established usage) · et õigekiri (correct spelling according to established usage) · sv ortografi (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · cs pravopis (correct spelling according to established usage) · hy ուղղագրություն (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · pl ortografia (correct spelling according to established usage) · tg имло (correct spelling according to established usage) · km អក្ខរាវិរុទ្ធ (correct spelling according to established usage) · be артагра́фія (correct spelling according to established usage) · nb ortografi (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · nl ortografie (correct spelling according to established usage) · ka ორთოგრაფია (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · sh пра̏вопӣс (aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words) · hi इमला (correct spelling according to established usage) · lv pareizrakstība (correct spelling according to established usage) · tr ortografi (correct spelling according to established usage) · da ortografi (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · my စာလုံးပေါင်း (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling) · sh пра̏вопӣс (method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols — see also spelling)