hea·then  (hē'thən) 
n.
pl. hea·thens or heathen
Offensive One who adheres to the religion of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. Such persons considered as a group; the unconverted. One who is regarded as irreligious, uncivilized, or unenlightened. Such persons considered as a group.
Heathen An adherent of a Neopagan religion that seeks to revive the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Germanic peoples. Informal One who is regarded as irreligious, uncivilized, or unenlightened. Such persons considered as a group.
[Middle English hethen, from Old English hǣthen; see kaito- in Indo-European roots.]
hea'then adj., hea'then·dom, hea'then·ism, hea'then·ry n. |
