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Definition of pagans' - 2 dictionary results

pa⋅gan

  [pey-guhn]
Use pagans' in a Sentence
–noun
1. one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks.
2. a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim.
3. an irreligious or hedonistic person.
–adjective
4. pertaining to the worship or worshipers of any religion that is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim.
5. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of pagans.
6. irreligious or hedonistic.
Origin:
1325–75; ME < ML, LL pāgānus worshiper of false gods, orig. civilian (i.e., not a soldier of Christ), L: peasant, n. use of pāgānus rural, civilian, deriv. of pāgus village, rural district (akin to pangere to fix, make fast); see -an1

Related forms:
pa⋅gan⋅ish, adjective
pa⋅gan⋅ish⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
2. heathen, gentile. 5. See heathen.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pagans'
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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