pagan
adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L24839 on Wikidata ↗noun
- term for a polytheist, non-monotheist or non-Christian
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈpeɪɡən/ / /pəˈɡɑːn/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English pagan (adjective and noun), from Latin pāgānus (“rural, rustic; civilian”), replaced Middle English payen from the same root. The meaning “not Christian” arose in Vulgar Latin, probably from the 4th century, owing to the Roman countryside being largely non-Christian, or potentially from the “civilian” meaning—denoting those not in the “army of Christ”. As a self-designation of neopagans, attested since 1990. Partly displaced native heathen, from Old English hǣþen. Note the opposition: pagan, peasant (related via pāgus), rustic, savage (<< Latin silvāticus), villain (<< Latin vīllānus), boorish vs. urbane, civil, courteous (akin to court). Also note Ancient Greek ἄγροικος (ágroikos) vs. ἀστεῖος (asteîos).
- Relating to, characteristic of religions that differ from main world religions.
“Under Christianization, many converted societies transformed their pagan deities into saints.”
“Black metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that typically takes on anti-Christian, satanic and pagan themes.”
- Savage, immoral, uncivilized, wild.
name
Etymology: Borrowing from Burmese ပုဂံ (pu.gam). Doublet of Bagan.
- The city of Bagan, Myanmar.
- The 9th- to 13th-century Burmese kingdom which had its capital at this city.
noun
Etymology: From Middle English pagan (adjective and noun), from Latin pāgānus (“rural, rustic; civilian”), replaced Middle English payen from the same root. The meaning “not Christian” arose in Vulgar Latin, probably from the 4th century, owing to the Roman countryside being largely non-Christian, or potentially from the “civilian” meaning—denoting those not in the “army of Christ”. As a self-designation of neopagans, attested since 1990. Partly displaced native heathen, from Old English hǣþen. Note the opposition: pagan, peasant (related via pāgus), rustic, savage (<< Latin silvāticus), villain (<< Latin vīllānus), boorish vs. urbane, civil, courteous (akin to court). Also note Ancient Greek ἄγροικος (ágroikos) vs. ἀστεῖος (asteîos).
- A person not adhering to a main world religion; a follower of a pantheistic or nature-worshipping religion.
“This community has a surprising number of pagans.”
- An uncivilized or unsocialized person.
- An unruly, badly educated child.
- An outlaw biker who is a member of the Pagans MC.
- Alternative form of paigon