Heathen
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
(Redirected from Heathenry)
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- Not adhering to an Abrahamic religion, pagan, adhering to polytheistic beliefs, especially when uncultured or uncivilized. (derogatory)
- by extension: uncultured, uncivilized, savage.
- pertaining to Germanic currents of neo-paganism known as Heathenry.
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Etymology
Heathen is from Old English hæðen "not Christian or Jewish" (c.f. Old Norse heiðinn). Historically, the term was probably influenced by Gothic haiþi "dwelling on the heath", appearing as haiþno in Ulfilas' bible as "gentile woman" (translating the "Hellene" in Template:Bibleverse). This translation was probably influenced by Latin paganus, "country dweller", or it was chosen because of its similarity to the Greek ἐθνικός ethnikos, "gentile". It has even been suggested that Gothic haiþi is not related to "heath" at all, but rather a loan from Armenian hethanos, itself loaned from Greek ἔθνος ethnos.
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