heathen
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L321808 on Wikidata ↗adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L337297 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈhiːðən/
adj
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).
- Not adhering to an Abrahamic religion; pagan.
“War of holy principles I'm seeking God's help in your destruction Slit the throat of heathen man And let his blood dilute the water, bury your dead”
- Uncultured; uncivilized; savage; barbarian.
- Alternative letter-case form of Heathen (pertaining or adhering to the Germanic neo-pagan faith Heathenry).
noun
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).
- A pagan; someone who is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim (other Abrahamic or monotheistic religions may or may not be included)
“On the heathens coming alongside the vessel, Otnit assumes the character of a merchant, and is admitted to enter the port.”
“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.”
- An uncultured or uncivilized person, philistine.
- Alternative letter-case form of Heathen (an adherent of the Germanic neo-pagan faith of Heathenry).