Crossword clues for heathen
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]
An individual of the pagan or unbelieving nations, or those which worship idols and do not acknowledge the true God; a pagan; an idolater.
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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.Syn: Pagan; gentile. See Pagan.
Heathen \Hea"then\ (h[=e]"[th]'n), a.
Gentile; pagan; as, a heathen author. ``The heathen philosopher.'' ``All in gold, like heathen gods.''
--Shak.Barbarous; unenlightened; heathenish.
Irreligious; scoffing.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Old English hæðen "not Christian or Jewish," also as a noun, "heathen man" (especially of the Danes), merged with Old Norse heiðinn (adj.) "heathen, pagan;" perhaps literally "pertaining to one inhabiting uncultivated land;" see heath + -en (2).\n
\nBut historically assumed to be from Gothic haiþno "gentile, heathen woman," used by Ulfilas in the first translation of the Bible into a Germanic language (as in in Mark vii:26, for "Greek"); if so it could be a derivative of Gothic haiþi "dwelling on the heath," but this sense is not recorded. It may have been chosen on model of Latin paganus, with its root sense of "rural" (see pagan), or for resemblance to Greek ethne (see gentile), or it may be a literal borrowing of that Greek word, perhaps via Armenian hethanos [Sophus Bugge]. Like other basic words for exclusively Christian ideas (such as church) it likely would have come first into Gothic and then spread to other Germanic languages.
Wiktionary
a. 1 Not adhering to an Abrahamic religion; pagan. 2 (context by extension English) Uncultured; uncivilized; savage, philistine. 3 (alternative case form of Heathen nodot=1 English) (gloss: pertaining or adhering to the Germanic neo-pagan faith Heathenry). n. 1 A person who does not follow an Abrahamic religion; a pagan. 2 (context by extension English) An uncultured or uncivilized person, philistine. 3 (alternative case form of Heathen nodot=1 English) (qualifier: an adherent of the Germanic neo-pagan faith of Heathenry).
WordNet
adj. not acknowledging the God of Christianity and Judaism and Islam [syn: heathenish, pagan, ethnic]
Wikipedia
Heathen is an American thrash metal band originating from the San Francisco Bay Area , founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco. They have released three studio albums: Breaking the Silence (1987), Victims of Deception (1991) and The Evolution of Chaos (2009).
Heathen is a 2009 British thriller film directed by Ross Shepherd. It tells the story of William Hunt, a reclusive railway worker, who suddenly finds himself on the trail of his missing brother, when he is sent mysterious clues relating to his disappearance. Shot in the city of Brighton, Heathen is a no budget film.
Heathen is the fourth studio album by American metal band Thou. It was released on March 25, 2014 through Gilead Media.
Heathen is the twenty-second studio album by English rock musician David Bowie, released in 2002. It was considered a comeback for him in the US market by becoming his highest charting album (number 14) since Tonight (1984). It also earned strong reviews. The BBC said the album's title track "shows that Bowie could still pen disarmingly direct, affecting pop of a very individual inclination 30-plus years after he started". Worldwide, it sold more than two million copies and experienced a four-month run on the UK charts. Although its production had started before the September 11 attacks in 2001, the album was finished after that date, which resulted in the influencing of its concept.
Heathen (plural heathens, collectively heathenry, adjective heathen) refers to someone who does not follow one of the major key religions, and who may or may not specify any other religious affiliation. More specific meanings include:
- A pagan, someone who does not follow one of the Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism); the most common meaning
- Someone who does not follow of the world's major organized religions;
- An adherent of Heathenry (new religious movement) (also known as Heathenism or Germanic neopaganism) in particular; often capitalized in this context
- Any adherent of neopaganism more generally
Usage examples of "heathen".
I prayed heartily to the one true God that these heathen Aethiops of strangely advanced science will continue to treat our people as well as they did on our first day of contact.
The saint complained that certain Alamanni, Bavarians, and Franks refused to give up various heathen practices because they had seen such things done in the sacred city of Rome, close to St.
She took leave of him with tears in her eyes, entreating him often to visit her in that heathen land of the Amorite, the Hittite, and the Girgashite: to which he assented, on many solemn and qualifying conditions--and then the comely bride retired to her chamber to pray.
Would you have the sapphire instead, which is a royal stone and was called by the ancient heathens the Apolline Stone?
Graham, when these poor heathen will cease from their dreadful wars, and live at peace with each other, like civilized beings?
But the Burman system of morality is superior to that of the nations round them, and to the heathen of ancient times, and is surpassed only by the divine precepts of our blessed Saviour.
God, despising him and his Sacraments, that thou dost transgress divine law, Holy Scripture and the canons of the Church, that thou thinkest evil and dost err from the faith, that thou art full of vain boasting, that thou art addicted to idolatry and worship of thyself and thy clothes, according to the customs of the heathen.
A pious churchman might, who hoped to see them become deacons and fraters in their turn who could minister to their countryfolk and thus bring their heathen relatives into the Light.
Many did, indeed, remain, and the settlements they made in the lake country have left traces which even to the present day may be recognized, not only in the remains of heathen temples and tombs, but also in the names of places and in certain Norse words that occur in the common speech of the Cumbrian folk.
The Church has played a double part, a part of sheer antagonism, forcing heathen customs into the shade, into a more or less surreptitious and unprogressive life, and a part of adaptation, baptizing them into Christ, giving them a Christian name and interpretation, and often modifying their form.
Christianized even in appearance, and obviously identical with heathen customs against which the Church thundered in the days of her youth.
Now as for them who on those days observe any heathen customs, it is to be feared that the name of Christian will avail them nought.
Denmark the development of Christianity began when, in 823, Archbishop Ebo of Reims was charged by the Emperor and the Pope to convert the heathen land of Denmark.
Age after age, the spirit that glorious nomad may shift its tent, fated not to rest in the dull Elysium of the heathen, but carrying with it evermore its twin elements, activity and desire.
With true heathen cruelty, the Lombard king had the skulls of the Gepidae mounted as drinking vessels, which he delighted in using on all state and festive occasions.