pagan

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.[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.

• enPR: pā'gən, IPA^(key): /ˈpeɪɡən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪɡən

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.

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

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

• (antonym(s) of “religion”):

• pantheistic
• neo-pagan

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.

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

• neo-pagan

• peasant
• paynim

• heretic
• infidel

• panga

pagan

1. third-person plural present subjunctive of pagar

• Hyphenation: pa‧gan

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

For quotations using this term, see Citations:pagan.

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

pagan (genitive pagana, partitive paganat)

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

• vanapagan

pagan

1. damn, darn, heck

pagan

1. third-person plural present indicative of pagar

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

pagan (genitive paganan, partitive [please provide])

1. pagan, heathen
2. sage, seer

pagan (genitive paganan, partitive [please provide])

1. dirty, unclean

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

pāgan

1. (Bavaria) Alternative form of bāgan

• Audio

  (file)

pagan

1. third-person plural present indicative of pagar

From pag (“paganism”) +‎ -an.

pagan (nominative plural pagans)

1. (Volapük Nulik) pagan, gentile