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Webster 1913 Edition


Orthodox

Or′tho-dox

,
Adj.
[L.
orthodoxus
, Gr.
ὀρθόδοξος
;
ὀρθόσ
right, true +
δόξα
opinion,
δοκεῖν
to think, seem; cf. F.
orthodoxe
. See
Ortho-
,
Dogma
.]
1.
Sound in opinion or doctrine, especially in religious doctrine; hence, holding the Christian faith; believing the doctrines taught in the Scriptures; – opposed to
heretical
and
heterodox
;
as, an
orthodox
Christian
.
2.
According or congruous with the doctrines of Scripture, the creed of a church, the decree of a council, or the like;
as, an
orthodox
opinion, book, etc.
He saluted me on both cheeks in the
orthodox
manner.
H. R. Haweis.
☞ The term orthodox differs in its use among the various Christian communions. The Greek Church styles itself the “Holy Orthodox Apostolic Church,” regarding all other bodies of Christians as more or less heterodox. The Roman Catholic Church regards the Protestant churches as heterodox in many points. In the United States the term orthodox is frequently used with reference to divergent views on the doctrine of the Trinity. Thus it has been common to speak of the Trinitarian Congregational churches in distinction from the Unitarian, as Orthodox.` The name is also applied to the conservative, in distinction from the “liberal”, or Hicksite, body in the Society of Friends.
Schaff-Herzog Encyc.

Webster 1828 Edition


Orthodox

OR'THODOX

,
Adj.
[See Orthodoxy.]
1.
Sound in the christian faith; believing the genuine doctrines taught in the Scriptures; opposed to heretical; as an orthodox christian.
2.
According with the doctrines of Scripture; as an orthodox creed or faith.

Definition 2024


Orthodox

Orthodox

See also: orthodox

English

Adjective

Orthodox (comparative more Orthodox, superlative most Orthodox)

  1. Of or pertaining to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
  2. Of or pertaining to the Oriental Orthodox Church.
  3. Of or pertaining to Orthodox Judaism.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

orthodox

orthodox

See also: Orthodox

English

Adjective

orthodox (comparative more orthodox, superlative most orthodox)

  1. Conforming to the established, accepted or traditional doctrines of a given ideology, faith or religion. [from 15th c.]
    • 2005, Alister E McGrath, Iustitia Dei:
      Five important modifications were made by the Pietists to the orthodox doctrine of justification, each corresponding to a distinctive aspect of the movement's agenda.
    • 2009, Andrew Brown, The Guardian, 23 Dec 2009:
      ‘These speakers are academics who have specialised in Islamic sciences and are well respected in scholarly circles. It is grossly unjust to suggest that they belong to some fringe ideology rather than orthodox Islam.’
  2. Adhering to whatever is traditional, customary or generally accepted.
  3. (botany, of seed, pollen, spores) Viable for a long time, viable when dried to low moisture content.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related terms

Translations


German

Etymology

From Late Latin orthodoxus, from Ancient Greek ὀρθόδοξος (orthódoxos), from ὀρθός (orthós, straight) + δόξα (dóxa, opinion).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌɔʁ.toˈdɔks/

Adjective

orthodox (comparative orthodoxer, superlative am orthodoxesten)

  1. (religion, sometimes other ideologies) orthodox
    Er ist orthodoxer Marxist.
    He is an orthodox Marxist.
  2. (religion) Orthodox
    Er ist orthodoxer Jude.
    He is an Orthodox Jew.

Usage notes

  • Particularly in Christian contexts, the word is ambiguous as it can mean “not heterodox” and “Eastern Orthodox”. For the latter a rarely used specification byzantinisch-orthodox is available.

Declension

Synonyms

  • (orthodox): rechtgläubig

Related terms

Derived terms