Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Heathen
Hea′then
(hē′th’n; 277)
, Noun.
pl.
Heathens
(-th’nz)
or collectively Heathen
. [OE. fem. See
hethen
, AS. hǣðen
, prop. an adj. fr. hǣð
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. hēðin
, adj., D. heiden
a heathen, G. heide
, OHG. heidan
, Icel. heiðinn
, adj., Sw. heden
, Goth. haiþnō
, Noun.
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.
2.
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 Muslims.
Syn. – Pagan; gentile. See
Pagan
. Hea′then
(hē′th’n)
, Adj.
1.
Gentile; pagan;
“The heathen philosopher.” “All in gold, like heathen gods.” as, a
. heathen
authorShak.
2.
Barbarous; unenlightened; heathenish.
3.
Irreligious; scoffing.
Webster 1828 Edition
Heathen
HE'ATHEN
,Noun.
1.
A pagan; a Gentile; one who worships idols, or is unacquainted with the true God. In the Scriptures, the word seems to comprehend all nations except the Jews or Israelites, as they were all strangers to the true religion, and all addicted to idolatry. The word may now be applied perhaps to all nations, except to Christians and Mohammedans.Heathen, without the plural termination, is used plurally or collectively, for Gentiles or heathen nations.
Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance. Ps.2.
Heathen, however, has a plural, expressing two or more individuals.
If men have reason to be heathens in Japan--
The precepts and examples of the ancient heathens.
2.
A rude, illiterate, barbarous person.HE'ATHEN
,Adj.