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Paganism

 - 2 dictionary results

pa⋅gan⋅ism

[pey-guh-niz-uhm]
–noun
1. pagan spirit or attitude in religious or moral questions.
2. the beliefs or practices of pagans.
3. the state of being a pagan.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME pāgānysme < LL pāgānismus, equiv. to L pāgān(us) pagan + -ismus -ism


pa⋅gan⋅ist, adjective, noun
pa⋅gan⋅is⋅tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Paganism
pa·gan   (pā'gən)   
n.  
  1. An adherent of a polytheistic religion in antiquity, especially when viewed in contrast to an adherent of a monotheistic religion.

  2. A Neopagan.

  3. Offensive

    1. One who has no religion.

    2. An adherent of a religion other than Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.

  4. A hedonist.


[Middle English, from Late Latin pāgānus, from Latin, country-dweller, civilian, from pāgus, country, rural district; see pag- in Indo-European roots.]
pa'gan adj., pa'gan·dom (-dəm) n., pa'gan·ish adj., pa'gan·ism n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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