Pagan
/ˈpeɪ.ɡən/noun
A person who follows a polytheistic or nature-based religion; historically, a non-Christian or non-Jew.
Did you know?The word *pagan* likely spread in part because Christianity first used it for the countryside folk who were slower to convert, so a term for “villagers” became a religious insult.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pag-
“to fasten, fix, or set in place”
Latin
Latin
pagus
“a district, country area, or rural territory”
Late Latin
Latin
paganus
“a villager, rustic, country dweller”
4th-5th Century
Latin
paganus
“a non-Christian or heathen, especially in Christian usage”
Old French
OF
paien
“a pagan or heathen”
Middle English
English
pagan
“a heathen or non-Christian”
Modern English
English
pagan
“a follower of a non-mainstream or nature-based religion”
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