Advertisement

Origin and history of orthodox

orthodox(adj.)

mid-15c., in reference to theological opinions or faith, "what is regarded as true or correct," from Late Latin orthodoxus, from Greek orthodoxos "having the right opinion," from orthos "right, true, straight" (see ortho-) + doxa "opinion, praise" (from dokein "to seem;" from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept").

Of other subjects than religion or theology from 1640s. Meaning "of or pertaining to the Greek Church," by 1772. In reference to a branch of Judaism, recorded from 1853; as a noun meaning "an Orthodox Jew," by 1889.

also from mid-15c.

Entries linking to orthodox

homodox(n.)

"one of the same opinion as another," 1650s, from Greek homodoxos "of the same opinion," from homos "same" (see homo- (1)) + doxa "opinion, praise" (see orthodox). 

orthodoxy(n.)

"correctness of opinion," especially in theology; "conformity to the Church creeds," 1620s, from French orthodoxie and directly from Late Latin orthodoxia, from late Greek orthodoxia "right opinion," abstract noun from orthodoxos "having the right opinion" (see orthodox). Orthodoxies "correct belief or opinion" is by 1871.

Advertisement

More to explore

Hicksite
The remainder of the profession (the minority numerically) were known as Orthodox Friends....About the only way I can tell whether a particular Meeting was Orthodox or Hicksite has to do with clocks and pianos....If not, it was Orthodox. [Francis G. Brown, "Downingtown Friends Meeting," 1999]...
Copt
The majority of the Egyptian churches separated from the Orthodox Church after the Council of Chalcedon (451 C.E.)....
iconoclast
Extended sense of "one who attacks orthodox beliefs or cherished institutions" is first attested 1842....
parapsychology
"the study of phenomena outside the sphere of orthodox psychology," by 1923, from German para-psychologie; see para- (1)...
Pennsylvania
The story goes that the younger Penn wanted to call it New Wales, but the king's secretary, a Welshman of orthodox religion...
Averroes
influences, he greatly elevated Aristotle's importance and the reverence for his pagan doctrines to a degree that alarmed the orthodox...
antipodes
1240, translated by John of Trevisa c. 1398] Belief in them could be counted as a heresy in medieval Europe, when the orthodox...
prevail
c. 1400, prevailen, "be successful; be efficacious," from Old French prevaleir (Modern French prévaloir) and directly from Latin praevalere "be stronger or more able, have greater power," from prae "before" (see pre-) + valere "have power, be strong" (from PIE root *wal- "to be s
urban
"characteristic of city life, pertaining to cities or towns," 1610s (but rare before 1830s), from Latin urbanus "of or pertaining to a city or city life; in Rome," also "in city fashion, polished, refined, cultivated, courteous," but also sometimes "witty, facetious, bold, impude
premise
late 14c., in logic, "a previous proposition from which another follows, a judgment causing another judgment," from Old French premisse (14c.), from Medieval Latin praemissa (propositio or sententia) "(the proposition) set before," noun use of fem. past participle of Latin praemi

Share orthodox

Advertisement
Trending
Dictionary entries near orthodox
Advertisement