English Explanatory Dictionary

heathen

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Not adhering to an Abrahamic religion; pagan.
  2. Uncultured; uncivilized; savage; barbarian.
  3. Alternative letter-case form of Heathen (pertaining or adhering to the Germanic neo-pagan faith Heathenry).
noun
  1. A pagan; someone who is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim (other Abrahamic or monotheistic religions may or may not be included)
  2. An uncultured or uncivilized person, philistine.
  3. Alternative letter-case form of Heathen (an adherent of the Germanic neo-pagan faith of Heathenry).
adj
  1. Pertaining or adhering to the Germanic neo-pagan faith Heathenry.
noun
  1. An adherent of the Germanic neo-pagan faith of Heathenry.

Pronunciation

/ˈhiːðən/ en-us-heathen.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Heathen.wav

Word forms

heathen heathener more heathen heathenest most heathen heathens

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).

Synonyms

heathenish heathenly heathenous pagan barbarous uncultivated animalistic barbarian barbaric barbarious brutal brutish Gothic Gothlike grim heathen incivil savage tenebrose truculent uncivil uncivilized uncouth uncultured uplandish wolfish infidel

Derived words

heathendom heatheness heathenesse heathenhood heathenise heathenish heathenism heathenistic heathenization heathenize heathenly heathenness heathenry heathenship nonheathen unheathen
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