pagan

English

Etymology

From Middle English pagan (adjective and noun), from Latin pāgānus (“rural, rustic", later "civilian”), replaced Middle English payen from the same root. The meaning "not (Judeo-)Christian" arose in Vulgar Latin, probably from the 4th century. It is unclear whether this usage is derived primarily from the "rustic" or from the "civilian" meaning, which in Roman army jargon meant 'clumsy'. As a self-designation of neopagans, attested since 1990.

Partly displaced native heathen, from Old English hǣþen.

Pronunciation

• enPR: pā'gən, IPA^(key): /ˈpeɪɡən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪɡən

Adjective

pagan (not comparable)

1. Relating to, characteristic of religions that differ from main world religions.

   Under Christianization, many converted societies transformed their pagan deities into saints.

2. (by extension, derogatory) Savage, immoral, uncivilized, wild.

Usage notes

• When referring to modern paganism, the term is now often capitalized, like other terms referring to religions.

Synonyms

• (adhering to a non-main world religion): heathen
• (uncivilized): barbarian, barbaric (pejorative)

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “religion”):

Hyponyms

• pantheistic
• neo-pagan

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

pagan (plural pagans)

1. 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.

2. (by extension, derogatory) An uncivilized or unsocialized person.
3. (by extension, derogatory) An unruly, badly educated child.
4. An outlaw biker who is a member of the Pagans MC.

Synonyms

• (heathen): paynim
• (uncivilised): philistine, savage
• (child): brat

Derived terms

• neo-pagan

Related terms

• peasant
• paynim

Translations

See also

• heretic
• infidel

References

Anagrams

• panga

Asturian

Verb

pagan

1. third-person plural present subjunctive of pagar

Cebuano

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: pa‧gan

Verb

pagan

1. to embroil; to draw into a situation; to cause to be involved
2. to implicate; to connect or involve in an unfavorable or criminal way with something
3. to fall victim to a friendly fire
4. (military) to fall victim as collateral damage
5. to be hit by a stray bullet
6. to get caught in a crossfire
7. (games, of marbles) to hit the adjacent marble with the target marble

Quotations

For quotations using this term, see Citations:pagan.

Estonian

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin paganus, through either Old East Slavic поганъ (poganŭ) or directly from Latin, through the German crusaders. Cognate to Finnish pakana.

Noun

pagan (genitive pagana, partitive paganat)

1. pagan, heathen
2. a devil, an evil spirit

Declension

Derived terms

• vanapagan

Interjection

pagan

1. damn, darn, heck

Galician

Verb

pagan

1. third-person plural present indicative of pagar

Livvi

Etymology

From Old Church Slavonic поганъ (poganŭ). Related to Finnish pakana (“pagan”) and Ingrian pakana.

Noun

pagan (genitive paganan, partitive )

1. pagan, heathen
2. sage, seer

Adjective

pagan (genitive paganan, partitive )

1. dirty, unclean

References

• Pertti Virtaranta, Raija Koponen (2009) “pakana”, in Marja Torikka, editor, Karjalan kielen sanakirja‎, Helsinki: Kotus, →ISSN

Old High German

Verb

pāgan

1. (Bavaria) Alternative form of bāgan

Spanish

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Verb

pagan

1. third-person plural present indicative of pagar

Volapük

Etymology

From pag (“paganism”) +‎ -an.

Noun

pagan (nominative plural pagans)

1. (Volapük Nulik) pagan, gentile

Declension