hæþen

== Old English == === Etymology 1 === From Proto-Germanic *haiþīnaz, probably a specifically Christian use of the base of *haiþī (“uncultivated land”). Cognate to Old Frisian hêthin, hêthen, Old High German heidan, Old Norse heiðinn, Gothic *𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌽𐍃 (*haiþns, “gentile”) (attested as feminine 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌽𐍉 (haiþnō)). The Germanic word is primarily an adjective. Perhaps influenced by Ancient Greek ἔθνος (éthnos, “nation, heathen”), via the loans from Greek in Coptic ϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ (hethnos) and/or Old Armenian հեթանոս (hetʻanos). The stem-vowel was influenced by haiþi (“heath”). See also Proto-Germanic *haiduz, Old Norse heiðr (honour, bright, moor), Icelandic heiður (honour, bright weather). ==== Alternative forms ==== hǣðen — edh spelling ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ˈxæː.θen/, [ˈhæː.ðen] ==== Adjective ==== hǣþen pagan, heathen The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (substantive) a heathen Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church ===== Declension ===== ===== Derived terms ===== hǣþendōm ===== Descendants ===== Middle English: hethen English: heathen Scots: haithen === Etymology 2 === From Proto-Germanic *hadinaz, *hidanaz (“skirt”) (compare *hōdaz (“hood”)). ==== Alternative forms ==== hæðen — edh spelling ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ˈxæ.θen/, [ˈhæ.ðen] ==== Noun ==== hæþen m alternative form of heden ===== Declension ===== Strong a-stem: === References ===