heathen

Meanings

Adjective

• Not adhering to Christian religion (though usually excluding the Jews); pagan.
• Uncultured; uncivilized; savage, philistine.
• Alternate spelling of Heathen .

Noun

• A person who does not follow a Christian religion; a pagan.
• An uncultured or uncivilized person, philistine.
• Alternate spelling of Heathen .

Origin

• From Middle English hethen, from Old English hǣþen, from Proto-West Germanic *haiþin, from Proto-Germanic *haiþinaz, equivalent to heath + -en. Cognate with West Frisian heiden, Dutch heiden, Middle High German heiden, German Heiden, Heide, Swedish heden, Icelandic heiðinn. See also Proto-Germanic *haiduz, Old Norse heiðr, Icelandic heiður.