What does "orthography" mean?
A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling.
Orthography
/ɔːˈθɒɡɹəfi/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling.
- Grammar: orthography is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: alphabet, alphabetic spelling, angolan portuguese spelling, devanagari.
- Useful contrasts: incorrect spelling, irregular spelling, misspelling.
- Usage evidence: Lojban is designed to be unambiguous in orthography, phonology, morphology, and grammar. Lojban semantics, however, must support the same breadth of human thought as natural languages.
How to use "orthography"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "orthography" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling. countable
"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."
- 2 a method of representing the sounds of a language by written or printed symbols wordnet
- 3 A set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, capitalization, emphasis, hyphenation, punctuation, and word breaks. countable
- 4 The aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words; the study of spelling. uncountable
"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."
- 5 Correct spelling according to established usage; also (obsolete) pronunciation according to the spelling of a word. uncountable
"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; […]"
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 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. countable
"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 […]"
- 7 Synonym of orthographer (“someone knowledgeable in spelling rules”). countable, obsolete
"[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: […]"
Verb
- 1 To spell (words) or write (text) according to established usage. archaic, rare, transitive
"[T]here have appeared three collections of ſongs and poems, all of vvhich, though there be merit in the compoſition, are, hovvever, vvretchedly orthographied."
Synonyms
All synonyms alphabetalphabetic spellingangolan portuguese spellingdevanagarieducational orthographyenglish spelling system
Antonyms
Example
"Lojban is designed to be unambiguous in orthography, phonology, morphology, and grammar. Lojban semantics, however, must support the same breadth of human thought as natural languages."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "orthography"?
Common synonyms include: alphabet, alphabetic spelling, angolan portuguese spelling, devanagari, educational orthography, english spelling system.
How do you use "orthography" in a sentence?
Lojban is designed to be unambiguous in orthography, phonology, morphology, and grammar. Lojban semantics, however, must support the same breadth of human thought as natural languages.
How do you pronounce "orthography"?
Pronounced /ɔːˈθɒɡɹəfi/.
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