orthography

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable) A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling.
2. (countable) A set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, capitalization, emphasis, hyphenation, punctuation, and word breaks.
3. (uncountable) The aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words; the study of spelling.
4. (uncountable) Correct spelling according to established usage; also (obsolete) pronunciation according to the spelling of a word.
5. (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.
6. (countable, obsolete) Synonym of orthographer (“someone knowledgeable in spelling rules”).

Verb

To spell (words) or write (text) according to established usage.

Opposite of

cacography, oblique projection

Synonyms

spelling

writing system

writing

spelling system

notation

representation

script

orthographic projection

rectangular projection

dictation

orthographic system

dictionary

orthogonal projection

orthographic

orthographical

Translations

orthographe

ortografía

spelling

Rechtschreibung

ortografia

ortografia

ορθογραφία

Orthographie

ortografia

Orthografie

orthografie

yazım

schrijfwijze

imla

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɔːˈθɒɡɹəfi/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: ortografie

Cognate with Old French: ortografie

Cognate with French: orthographe

Cognate with Catalan: ortografia

Cognate with Italian: ortografia

Cognate with Portuguese: ortografia

Cognate with Spanish: ortografía

In summary

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