pagan

C2 Topic:People & Society

US /ˈpeɪɡən/ UK /ˈpeɪɡən/ See IPA manual

Freq #13272

Meanings

1

noun
a follower of a polytheistic, nature-centered, or pre-Christian religion, including a person in a modern Pagan tradition

The modern pagan observed the solstice with members of her religious community.
2

adj
relating to such religions, their followers, or their customs

The museum displayed objects associated with pagan worship in the ancient Mediterranean.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a follower of a... polytheistneopagan

2 adj · relating to such religions,... polytheisticpre-Christianneopagan

Opposites

monotheist

Word family

Derived forms paganismpaganizepaganization

Related forms heathen polytheism animismdruid

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

pagan religion
a religion described from an Abrahamic perspective as outside Christianity, Judaism, or Islam

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Pagan came in late Middle English from Latin paganus, originally "of the country, rustic" and also "civilian." Around the 4th century AD it acquired the sense "non-Christian," perhaps because older beliefs persisted in rural areas, because Christians viewed themselves as soldiers and outsiders as civilians, or because non-Christians were associated with country districts beyond urban society. Paganus derives from Latin pagus, "country district."

Etymology

From Latin paganus, originally 'country dweller' and 'civilian.' In late antiquity it came to mean a person outside Christianity. The semantic route is debated: it may reflect the slower Christianization of rural areas or contrast civilians with the metaphorical 'soldiers of Christ.' Modern Pagans also use the term as a self-designation.

Topics

People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# pagan

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈpeɪɡən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpeɪɡən/
**Frequency rank:** 13272

## Meanings
1. a follower of a polytheistic, nature-centered, or pre-Christian religion, including a person in a modern Pagan tradition
2. relating to such religions, their followers, or their customs

## Examples
- The modern pagan observed the solstice with members of her religious community.
- The museum displayed objects associated with pagan worship in the ancient Mediterranean.

## Synonyms
- polytheist
- neopagan

## Antonyms
- monotheist

## Derived Forms
- paganism
- paganize
- paganization

## Related Forms
- heathen
- polytheism
- animism
- druid

## Etymology
From Latin paganus, originally 'country dweller' and 'civilian.' In late antiquity it came to mean a person outside Christianity. The semantic route is debated: it may reflect the slower Christianization of rural areas or contrast civilians with the metaphorical 'soldiers of Christ.' Modern Pagans also use the term as a self-designation.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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