hæþen

Old English

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *haiþinaz, probably a specifically Christian use of the base of *haiþī (“uncultivated land”).

Cognate to Old Frisian hêthin, hêthen, Old High German heidan, Old Norse heiðinn, Gothic *𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌽𐍃 (*haiþns, “gentile”) (attested as feminine 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌽𐍉 (haiþnō)). The Germanic word is primarily an adjective.

Perhaps influenced by Ancient Greek ἔθνος (éthnos, “nation, heathen”), via the loans from Greek in Coptic ϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ (hethnos) and/or Old Armenian հեթանոս (hetʻanos). The stem-vowel was influenced by haiþi (“heath”). See also Proto-Germanic *haiduz, Old Norse heiðr (honour, bright, moor), Icelandic heiður (honour, bright weather).

Alternative forms

• hǣðen — edh spelling

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxæː.θen/,

Adjective

hǣþen

1. pagan, heathen

Declension

Derived terms

• hǣþendōm

Descendants

• Middle English: hethen
  • English: heathen
  • Scots: haithen

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *hadinaz, *hidanaz (“skirt”) (compare *hōdaz (“hood”)).

Alternative forms

• hæðen — edh spelling

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxæ.θen/,

Noun

hæþen m

1. Alternative form of heden

Declension

References