Definition of "orthography"

(linguistics)

1. (countable) A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • 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.], page 3

   • 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, […], part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 170

   • 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, page 4

   • 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, page 491

2. (countable, more broadly) A set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, capitalization, emphasis, hyphenation, punctuation, and word breaks.  examples

3. (uncountable) The aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words; the study of spelling.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • 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, page 23

4. (uncountable) Correct spelling according to established usage; also (obsolete) pronunciation according to the spelling of a word.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • I abhor ſuch phanaticall phantaſms, ſuch inſociable and poynt deuiſe companions, ſuch rackers of ortagriphie, as to ſpeake dout fine, vvhen he ſhould ſay doubt; […]Used to refer to pronunciation according to the spelling of a word.

     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, [Act V, scene i], page 136, column 1

   • [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, Act IV, scene i

   • 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 15 (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, section I, page 37

   • 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. Osborn, […], 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; […], footnote *, page 130

(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.  quotations  examples

(countable, obsolete) Synonym of orthographer (“someone knowledgeable in spelling rules”)  quotations

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