heathen

n.; pl. Heathens r collectively Heathen. [ OE. hethen, AS. h&aemacr_;ðen, prop. an adj. fr. h&aemacr_;ð 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. hēðin, adj., D. heiden a heathen, G. heide, OHG. heidan, Icel. heiðinn, adj., Sw. heden, Goth. haiþnō, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An irreligious person. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The heathen, as the term is used in the Scriptures, all people except the Jews; now used of all people except Christians, Jews, and Muslims. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance. Ps. ii. 8.

Syn. -- Pagan; gentile. See Pagan. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Gentile; pagan; as, a heathen author. “The heathen philosopher.” “All in gold, like heathen gods.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Barbarous; unenlightened; heathenish. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Irreligious; scoffing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. h&aemacr_;ðendōm. ] 1. That part of the world where heathenism prevails; the heathen nations, considered collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Heathenism. C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. h&aemacr_;ðennes, i. e., heathenness. ] Heathendom. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. h&aemacr_;ðenisc. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the heathen; resembling or characteristic of heathens. “Worse than heathenish crimes.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Rude; uncivilized; savage; cruel. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Irreligious; as, a heathenish way of living. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a heathenish manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being heathenish. “The . . . heathenishness and profaneness of most playbooks.” Prynne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The religious system or rites of a heathen nation; idolatry; paganism. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The manners or morals usually prevalent in a heathen country; ignorance; rudeness; barbarism. [ 1913 Webster ]