heathen

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English hethen, from Old English hǣþen, from Proto-West Germanic *haiþin, from Proto-Germanic *haiþīnaz (“heathen, pagan”, adjective), equivalent to heath (“heathland”) +‎ -en. Cognate with West Frisian heiden, Dutch heiden, Middle High German heiden, German Heiden, German Heide, Swedish heden, Danish hedensk (from heden+sk), Icelandic heiðinn. See also Proto-Germanic *haiduz, Old Norse heiðr (honour, bright, moor), Icelandic heiður (honour). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈhiːðən/ Rhymes: -iːðən === Adjective === heathen (comparative heathener or more heathen, superlative heathenest or most heathen) Not adhering to an Abrahamic religion; pagan. (by extension) Uncultured; uncivilized; savage; barbarian. Alternative letter-case form of Heathen (pertaining or adhering to the Germanic neo-pagan faith Heathenry). ==== Translations ==== === Noun === heathen (plural heathens or heathen) A pagan; someone who is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim (other Abrahamic or monotheistic religions may or may not be included) Synonym: infidel V. Knox If it is no more than a moral discourse, he may preach it and they may hear it, and yet both continue unconverted heathens. (by extension) An uncultured or uncivilized person, philistine. Alternative letter-case form of Heathen (an adherent of the Germanic neo-pagan faith of Heathenry). ==== Coordinate terms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === heathen on Wikipedia.Wikipedia