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orthography - 4 dictionary results

or⋅thog⋅ra⋅phy

  [awr-thog-ruh-fee]
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–noun, plural -phies for 3–5.
1. the art of writing words with the proper letters, according to accepted usage; correct spelling.
2. the part of language study concerned with letters and spelling.
3. a method of spelling, as by the use of an alphabet or other system of symbols; spelling.
4. a system of such symbols: Missionaries provided the first orthography for the language.
5. an orthographic projection, or an elevation drawn by means of it.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME ortografye < L orthographia correct writing, orthogonal projection < Gk orthographía. See ortho-, -graphy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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or·thog·ra·phy   (ôr-thŏg'rə-fē)   
n.   pl. or·thog·ra·phies
  1. The art or study of correct spelling according to established usage.
  2. The aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words.
  3. A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling.
or·thog'ra·pher, or·thog'ra·phist n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Orthography

Or*thog"ra*phy\, n. [OE. ortographie, OF. orthographie, L. orthographia, Gr. ?, fr. ? writing correctly; 'orqo`s right + gra`fein to write. See Ortho-, and Graphic.]

1. 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.

When spelling no longer follows the pronunciation, but is hardened into orthography. --Earle.

2. The part of grammar which treats of the letters, and of the art of spelling words correctly.

3. A drawing in correct projection, especially an elevation or a vertical section.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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orthography 
"correct or proper spelling," c.1450, from M.Fr. orthographie (O.Fr. ortografie, 13c.), from L. orthographia, from Gk. orthos "correct" + root of graphein "to write."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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