pagan
English
Etymology
From Middle English pagan (adjective and noun), from Latin pāgānus (“rural, rustic", later "civilian”). The meaning "not (Judeo-)Christian" arose in Vulgar Latin, probably from the 4th century.[1] 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)
- Relating to, characteristic of religions that differ from main world religions.
- Many converted societies transformed their pagan deities into saints.
- (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
Antonyms
- (religion):
Hyponyms
Translations
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Noun
pagan (plural pagans)
- 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.
- (by extension, derogatory) An uncivilized or unsocialized person.
- (by extension, derogatory) An unruly, badly educated child.
Synonyms
- (heathen): paynim
- (uncivilised): philistine, savage
- (child): brat
Derived terms
Translations
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
References
- Augustine, Divers. Quaest. 83.
Asturian
Cebuano
Pronunciation
- Hyphenation: pa‧gan
Verb
pagan
- to embroil; to draw into a situation; to cause to be involved
- to implicate; to connect or involve in an unfavorable or criminal way with something
- to fall victim to a friendly fire
- (military) to fall victim as collateral damage
- to be hit by a stray bullet
- to get caught in a crossfire
- (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.
Declension
singular | plural | |
---|---|---|
nominative | pagan | paganad |
accusative | pagana | paganad |
genitive | pagana | paganate |
partitive | paganat | paganaid |
illative | paganasse | paganatesse paganaisse |
inessive | paganas | paganates paganais |
elative | paganast | paganatest paganaist |
allative | paganale | paganatele paganaile |
adessive | paganal | paganatel paganail |
ablative | paganalt | paganatelt paganailt |
translative | paganaks | paganateks paganaiks |
terminative | paganani | paganateni |
essive | paganana | paganatena |
abessive | paganata | paganateta |
comitative | paganaga | paganatega |
Derived terms
- vanapagan
Galician
Livvi
Etymology
From Old Church Slavonic поганъ (poganŭ). Related to Finnish pakana (“pagan”) and Ingrian pakkaana (“foul”).