Definition of heathen

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< Heath, Edward Richard George

heathenish >

hea·then    (hn) KEY 

NOUN:
pl. hea·thens or heathen

1. 1. One who adheres to the religion of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.
   2. Such persons considered as a group; the unconverted.
2. 1. One who is regarded as irreligious, uncivilized, or unenlightened.
   2. Such persons considered as a group.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English hethen, from Old English hthen; see kaito- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
heathen(Adjective), heathen·dom or heathen·ism or heathen·ry(Noun)