English
orthodox
Orthodox comes from Ancient Greek ὀρθόδοξος ‘orthodox (in religion)’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὀρθόδοξοςorthódoxos‘orthodox (in religion)’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEorthodoxus
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600orthodoxe
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1838orthodox
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEὀρθόδοξοςorthódoxos‘orthodox (in religion)’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEorthodoxus
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600orthodoxe
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1838orthodox
Earliest quotation: 1838, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, London: Saunders and Otley: “She tattled on: first to one, then to the…”
A compound of ὀρθός ‘straight’ + δόξα ‘opinion’
Proto-Indo-European *h₃erdʰ- ‘upright’
Proto-Indo-European *h₃r̥dʰwós
Proto-Hellenic *ortʰwós
Ancient Greek ὀρθός ‘straight’
Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to accept’
Proto-Indo-European *dóḱs(e)h₂
Ancient Greek δόξα ‘opinion’
Every English word from Ancient Greek ὀρθόδοξος
Today it means
adj Conforming to the accepted, established, or traditional doctrines of a given faith, religion, or ideology.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ὀρθόδοξος / orthodox