heathen English · revision 1331

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhiːðən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|hethen]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[inh|ang|hǣþen|t=not Christian or Jewish]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) merged with Old Norse ''heiðinn'',^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) from [[gem-pro|*haiþanaz]],^(Etymonline) which is of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline) It is related to German ''Heide'' and Gothic ''haiþno'' “gentile woman”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) It may originally have meant “dweller on the [[heath]]”,^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) but Barnhart and Etymonline note that this is unproven and that the word may first have spread from Gothic Bible translation.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Not Christian or Jewish; pagan (about 725 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1995) 826 in the OED).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old English the word was applied especially to the pagan Danes.^(Etymonline) It was later defined against Christianity, Judaism and Islam alike.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(RHWU) From 1818 it was used of a person regarded as having no more religion, enlightenment or culture than a pagan.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 725 – Old English ''hǣþen''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1121 – Middle English ''hethen''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1630 – the individual plural ''heathens''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1818 – an uncultured or irreligious person.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person whose religion is not Christianity, Judaism or Islam; a [[pagan]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(the heathen)'' Such people as a group.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A person regarded as irreligious, uncivilized or unenlightened.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to heathens; pagan.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Irreligious, uncultured or uncivilized.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[heathendom]]

+ * [[heathenism]]

+ * [[heathenish]]

+ * [[heathenize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[heath]]

+ * [[pagan]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House explains that ''heathen'' and ''pagan'' both apply to people who are not Christian, Jewish or Muslim, but ''heathen'' is often used of idolaters thought primitive or barbaric, while ''pagan'' is most often used of the ancient Greeks and Romans.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}