*pagan*

n. [ L. paganus a countryman, peasant, villager, a pagan, fr. paganus of or pertaining to the country, rustic, also, pagan, fr. pagus a district, canton, the country, perh. orig., a district with fixed boundaries: cf. pangere to fasten. Cf. Painim, Peasant, and Pact, also Heathen. ] One who worships false gods; an idolater; a heathen; one who is neither a Christian, a Mohammedan, nor a Jew. [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither having the accent of Christians, nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor man. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Gentile; heathen; idolater. -- Pagan, Gentile, Heathen. Gentile was applied to the other nations of the earth as distinguished from the Jews. Pagan was the name given to idolaters in the early Christian church, because the villagers, being most remote from the centers of instruction, remained for a long time unconverted. Heathen has the same origin. Pagan is now more properly applied to rude and uncivilized idolaters, while heathen embraces all who practice idolatry. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. paganus of or pertaining to the country, pagan. See Pagan, n. ] Of or pertaining to pagans; relating to the worship or the worshipers of false goods; heathen; idolatrous, as, pagan tribes or superstitions. [ 1913 Webster ]

And all the rites of pagan honor paid. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The pagan lands; pagans, collectively; paganism. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to pagans or paganism; heathenish; paganish. [ R. ] “The paganic fables of the goods.” Cudworth. -- Pa*gan"ic*al*ly, adv. [R.] [1913 Webster]

a. Of or pertaining to pagans; heathenish. “The old paganish idolatry.” Sharp [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. paganismus: cf. F. paganisme. See Pagan, and cf. Painim. ] The state of being pagan; pagan characteristics; esp., the worship of idols or false gods, or the system of religious opinions and worship maintained by pagans; heathenism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. Paganitas. ] The state of being a pagan; paganism. [ R. ] Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Paganized p. pr. & vb. n. Paganizing ] To render pagan or heathenish; to convert to paganism. Hallywell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To behave like pagans. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a pagan manner. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Abbrev. fr. L. de propaganda fide: cf. F. propagande. See Propagate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A congregation of cardinals, established in 1622, charged with the management of missions. (b) The college of the Propaganda, instituted by Urban VIII. (1623-1644) to educate priests for missions in all parts of the world. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, any organization or plan for spreading a particular doctrine or a system of principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. propagandisme. ] The art or practice of propagating tenets or principles; zeal in propagating one's opinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. propagandiste. ] A person who devotes himself to the spread of any system of principles. “Political propagandists.” Walsh. [ 1913 Webster ]

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v. t. To paganize anew; to bring back to paganism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Half pagan. [ 1913 Webster ]