heathen

Noun · Adjective

Synonyms: pagan gentile infidel heathenish ethnic

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

a person who does not acknowledge your godSynonyms: pagan gentile infidel

Adjective (1)

not acknowledging the God of Christianity and Judaism and IslamSynonyms: heathenish pagan ethnic

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Heathen \Hea"then\ (h[=e]"[th]'n), a.

1.Gentile; pagan; as, a heathen author. "The heathen philosopher." "All in gold, like heathen gods." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2.Barbarous; unenlightened; heathenish. [1913 Webster]

3.Irreligious; scoffing. [1913 Webster]

Heathen \Hea"then\ (h[=e]"[th]'n; 277), n.; pl. Heathens (-[th]'nz) or collectively Heathen. [OE. hethen, AS. h[=ae][eth]en, prop. an adj. fr. h[=ae][eth] 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. h[=e][eth]in, adj., D. heiden a heathen, G. heide, OHG. heidan, Icel. hei[eth]inn, adj., Sw. heden, Goth. hai[thorn]n[=o], n. 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. [1913 Webster]

2.An irreligious person. [1913 Webster]

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.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance.— Ps. ii. 8.

Syn: Pagan; gentile. See Pagan. [1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary

HEATHEN, n. A benighted creature who has the folly to worship something that he can see and feel. According to Professor Howison, of the California State University, Hebrews are heathens.

"The Hebrews are heathens!" says Howison. He's A Christian philosopher. I'm A scurril agnostical chap, if you please, Addicted too much to the crime Of religious discussion in my rhyme.

Though Hebrew and Howison cannot agree On a _modus vivendi_ -- not they! -- Yet Heaven has had the designing of me, And I haven't been reared in a way To joy in the thick of the fray.

For this of my creed is the soul and the gist, And the truth of it I aver: Who differs from me in his faith is an 'ist, And 'ite, an 'ie, or an 'er -- And I'm down upon him or her!

Let Howison urge with perfunctory chin Toleration -- that's all very well, But a roast is "nuts" to his nostril thin, And he's running -- I know by the smell -- A secret and personal Hell! Bissell Gip