hethenesse

== Middle English == === Alternative forms === heðenesse, hethynnesse, hethenes, heþenesse, heþinesse, heþennisse, haðenesse, hethness, hethenenesse, heþennes, hethynes, heþynes, hathennes === Etymology === From Old English hǣþenes, hǣþennes; equivalent to hethen (“heathen”) +‎ -nesse, but vowel reduction shows that by the Late ME period it was no longer analysed as such. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈhɛːð(ə)nɛs/ === Noun === hethenesse The portion of the world controlled or populated by pagans or Muslims, or any part of this portion of the world. heathenry, paganism; belief in a pagan religion. Pagan doctrine or habits; the trappings of a pagan religion. As well in Christendom as in Heatheness, Chaucer, Canterbury Tales[1] ==== Descendants ==== English: heathenesse ==== References ==== “hēthenes(se, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 28 April 2018.