orthography

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: or=thog=ra=phy

CIDE DICTIONARY

orthography, n. [OE. ortographie, OF. orthographie, L. orthographia, Gr. , fr. writing correctly; 'orqo`s right + gra`fein to write. See Ortho-, and Graphic.].

•  The art or practice of writing words with the proper letters, according to standard usage; conventionally correct spelling; also, mode of spelling; as, his orthography is vicious.  [1913 Webster]

  "When spelling no longer follows the pronunciation, but is hardened into orthography."  [1913 Webster]
•  The part of grammar which treats of the letters, and of the art of spelling words correctly.  [1913 Webster]
•  A drawing in correct projection, especially an elevation or a vertical section.  [1913 Webster]
•  The method of spelling the words of a particular language; the system of symbols used for writing a language.  [PJC]
•  The branch of linguistics concerned with how languages are written.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

orthography, n. (pl. -ies)
1 a correct or conventional spelling. b spelling with reference to its correctness (dreadful orthography). c the study or science of spelling.
2 a perspective projection used in maps and elevations in which the projection lines are parallel. b a map etc. so projected.

Derivative

orthographer n. orthographic adj. orthographical adj. orthographically adv.

Etymology

ME f. OF ortografie f. L orthographia f. Gk orthographia (as ORTHO-, -GRAPHY)

DEVIL DICTIONARY

orthography

n. The science of spelling by the eye instead of the ear. Advocated with more heat than light by the outmates of every asylum for the insane. They have had to concede a few things since the time of Chaucer, but are none the less hot in defence of those to be conceded hereafter.

A spelling reformer indicted
For fudge was before the court cicted.
The judge said: "Enough --
His candle we'll snough,
And his sepulchre shall not be whicted."