c.1375, from L.L.
paganus "pagan," in classical L. "villager, rustic, civilian," from
pagus "rural district," originally "district limited by markers," thus related to
pangere "to fix, fasten," from PIE base
*pag- "to fix" (see
pact). Religious sense is often said to derive from conservative rural adherence to the old gods after the Christianization of Roman towns and cities; but the word in this sense predates that period in Church history, and it is more likely derived from the use of
paganus in Roman military jargon for "civilian, incompetent soldier," which Christians (Tertullian, c.202; Augustine) picked up with the military imagery of the early Church (e.g.
milites "soldier of Christ," etc.). Applied to modern pantheists and nature-worshippers from 1908.
Paganism is attested from 1433.
[pey-guh
n] 