Lexic.us

Definition of Heathen

1. Adjective. Not acknowledging the God of Christianity and Judaism and Islam.

Definition of Heathen

1. n. An individual of the pagan or unbelieving nations, or those which worship idols and do not acknowledge the true God; a pagan; an idolater.

2. a. Gentile; pagan; as, a heathen author.

Definition of Heathen

1. Adjective. not adhering to an Abrahamic religion; pagan. ¹

2. Adjective. (by extension) uncultured; uncivilized; savage, philistine. ¹

3. Adjective. pertaining to currents of Germanic neo-paganism known as Heathenry. ¹

4. Noun. A person who does not follow an Abrahamic religion; a pagan. ¹

5. Noun. (by extension) An uncultured or uncivilized person, philistine. ¹

6. Noun. Self-designation of some adherents of neo-paganism. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Heathen

1. an uncivilized person [n -S]

Medical Definition of Heathen

1. Origin: OE. Hethen, AS. Hen, prop. An adj. Fr. H heath, and orig, therefore, one who lives in the country or on the heaths and in the woods (cf. Pagan, fr. Pagus village); akin to OS. Hin, adj, D. Heiden a heathen, G. Heide, OHG. Heidan, Icel. Heiinn, adj, Sw. Heden, Goth. Haipn, fem. See Heath, and cf. Hoiden. 1. An individual of the pagan or unbelieving nations, or those which worship idols and do not acknowledge the true God; a pagan; an idolater. 2. An irreligious person. "If it is no more than a moral discourse, he may preach it and they may hear it, and yet both continue unconverted heathens." (V. Knox) The heathen, as the term is used in the Scriptures, all people except the Jews; now used of all people except Christians, Jews, and Mohammedans. "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance." (Ps. Ii. 8) Synonym: Pagan, gentile. See Pagan. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Heathen

Literary usage of Heathen

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Embracing by Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert Hauck (1911)
"This writer has also taken into his work a series of heathen oracles, a process which he ... There is express testimony from heathen sources (Varro, 5. ..."

2. The Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors by Charles Wells Moulton (1904)
"Knowing the heathen better than the Christian and having more affection for him, and knowing his difficulties better than the Christian's, he could but say ..."

3. The Reformation by Williston Walker (1873)
"Moreover, he did not accept the prevailing belief in the universal condemnation of the heathen. The passages of Scripture which seem to assert this he ..."

4. The Reformation by George Park Fisher (1901)
"The virtues of heathen sages and heroes are due to divine grace. By grace they were led to exercise faith in God. A Socrates, he says, was more pious and ..."

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