ortho-
/oɹˈθɑ-/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.81 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
prefix
prefix
Same, from the same.
prefix
prefix
In isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in adjacent (1,2) positions (compare meta- and para-).
Example Sentences
- "In this sense, it is the angle that is "right" or straight rather than the line; orthogon is a right-angle triangle, orthocentric is a tetrahedron where all three pairs of opposite edges are perpendicular, orthoclastic is a crystal whose cleavage planes are at right angles."
- "E.g., orthorexia is an unhealthy fixation with healthy or righteous eating, an orthotaxon is a true taxon based biological relationships rather than form, orthology is speech which is proper, orthoquartzite is very pure quartz sandstone."
- "E.g., orthophotography is the geometrical correction of aerial photographs, orthoptics is the treatment of muscular irregularities of the eye, orthodontics is the correcting of misaligned teeth."
- "E.g., An orthocousin, unlike a cross-cousin, is on the same side of the family; orthogamy is when a plant's ovules are fertilized by pollen from the same plant; orthochronous is a transformation which preserves the direction of time."
- "E.g., orthocclusion is normal occlusion, orthodromic is when neurological impulses are passed in the normal direction, orthogravitropism is the ordinary effect of gravity on plants"
- "E.g., orthoconic is a mollusc shell that is straight rather than spiraled, orthodentin is dentin composed of straight tubes, orthognathous is straight-jawed. ."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₃er- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *-dʰh₁eti Proto-Indo-European *-dʰeti Proto-Indo-European *h₃érdʰeti? Proto-Indo-European *h₃erdʰ-der. Proto-Hellenic *ortʰwós Ancient Greek ὀρθός (orthós)lbor. English ortho- Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ὀρθός (orthós).
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /oɹ.θə-/
- British English: /ɔː.θə-/