Orthodox

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɔːθədɒks/

Definitions

1. Conforming to established religious doctrines, traditional beliefs, or conventional practices that are widely accepted
2. Adhering to recognized and traditional doctrines, particularly in religion, while also embodying established conventions and accepted views
3. Following conventional doctrines, especially those in a religious context, and upholding widely accepted customs and norms

Etymology: Ancient Greek speakers built this word from two ordinary parts: "orthos" meant "straight" or "right," and "doxa" meant "opinion" or "belief." Put together, "orthodoxos" described someone holding the right opinion, and the word was not tied to religion at first. Its religious sense developed in early Christian writing, where it came to mean holding the correct beliefs as opposed to heretical ones. The word passed into Latin as "orthodoxus" and then reached English in the Late Middle English period, through Middle French. English already had its own word for the idea, "wuldorlic," which the newcomer eventually displaced. The "doxa" part is worth noticing, since it also appears in words such as "paradox," which means something contrary to opinion, and "doxology," a liturgical formula of praise.

Synonyms: traditional, conventional, established, mainstream

Antonyms: unorthodox, radical, innovative