Etymology : Middle English orthodoxe, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French orthodoxe, from Late Latin orthodoxus, from Late Greek orthodoxos, from Greek orth- + doxa opinion; more at DOXOLOGY
Pronunciation : 'or-th&-"däks
Function : adjective
Date : 15th century
1. observant; conservative; religious. orthodox\or"tho*dox\ , a. [l. orthodoxus, gr. 'orqo`doxos; 'orqo`s right, true + do`xa opinion, dokei^n to think, seem; cf. f. orthodoxe. see:
ortho-, dogma.].
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. approved; conventional. he saluted me on both cheeks in the orthodox manner. r. haweis.note: 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.orthodox adj.
5. (religion) of or pertaining to or characteristic of judaism; "orthodox judaism" [syn: orthodox, jewish-orthodox].
6. adhering to what is commonly accepted; "an orthodox view of the world" [ant: unorthodox].
7. (religion) of or relating to or characteristic of the eastern orthodox church [syn: orthodox, eastern orthodox , russian orthodox, greek orthodox].
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Approved; conventional. adhering to what is commonly accepted; "an orthodox view of the world" of or pertaining to or characteristic of Judaism; "Orthodox Judaism" of or relating to or characteristic of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
11. The spelling Orthodox is also used for meaning 3..
12. Orthodox beliefs, methods, or systems are ones which are accepted or used by most people. Many of these ideas are now being incorporated into orthodox medical treatment. = conventional ¡Ù unorthodox.
13. If you describe someone as orthodox, you mean that they hold the older and more traditional ideas of their religion or party. orthodox Jews. orthodox communists. = conservative, traditional.
14. The Orthodox churches are Christian churches in Eastern Europe which separated from the western church in the eleventh century. the Greek Orthodox Church. adj. Coptic Orthodox Church Orthodox Catholic Church Ethiopian Orthodox church Greek Orthodox Church Orthodox Judaism Russian Orthodox Church.