orthography

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ɔːˈθɒɡɹəfi/
• (General American) enPR: ôrthäʹgrəfē, IPA: /ɔɹˈθɑɡɹəfi/
• Hyphenation: or‧tho‧gra‧phy

Noun

orthography (countable and uncountable, plural orthographies)

1. (countable, architecture) 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.
   • Antonym: oblique projection
2. (linguistics)
   1. (countable) A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling.
   2. (countable, more broadly) 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.
      • Antonym: cacography
3. (countable, obsolete) Synonym of orthographer (“someone knowledgeable in spelling rules”)

Verb

orthography (third-person singular simple present orthographies, present participle orthographying, simple past and past participle orthographied)

1. (transitive, rare, archaic) To spell (words) or write (text) according to established usage.