HEATHEN

heathen, heathenish, pagan, ethnic

(adjective) not acknowledging the God of Christianity and Judaism and Islam

heathen, pagan, gentile, infidel

(noun) a person who does not acknowledge your god

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

heathen (not comparable)

Not adhering to Christian religion; pagan.

(by extension) Uncultured; uncivilized; savage, philistine.

Alternative letter-case form of Heathen (pertaining or adhering to the Germanic neo-pagan faith Heathenry).

Noun

heathen (plural heathens or heathen)

A person who does not follow a Christian religion; a pagan.

• V. Knox

(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

Etymology

Adjective

Heathen (not comparable)

Pertaining or adhering to the Germanic neo-pagan faith Heathenry.

Noun

Heathen (plural Heathens)

An adherent of the Germanic neo-pagan faith of Heathenry.

Source: Wiktionary

Hea"then, n.; pl. Heathens or collectively Heathen. Etym: [OE. hethen, AS. h, prop. an adj. fr. h heath, and orig., therefore, one who lives in the country or on the heaths and in the woods (cf. pagan, fr. pagus village); akin to OS. h, adj., D. heiden a heathen, G. heide, OHG. heidan, Icel. hei, adj., Sw. heden, Goth. haipn, n. fem. See Heath, and cf. Hoiden.]

1. An individual of the pagan or unbelieving nations, or those which worship idols and do not acknowledge the true God; a pagan; an idolater.

2. An irreligious person. If it is no more than a moral discourse, he may preach it and they may hear it, and yet both continue unconverted heathens. V. Knox. The heathen, as the term is used in the Scriptures, all people except the Jews; now used of all people except Christians, Jews, and Mohammedans. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance. Ps. ii. 8.

Syn.

– Pagan; gentile. See Pagan.

Hea"then, a.

1. Gentile; pagan; as, a heathen author. "The heathen philosopher." "All in gold, like heathen gods." Shak.

2. Barbarous; unenlightened; heathenish.

3. Irreligious; scoffing.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition