'The heathen' definitions:

Definition of 'The heathen'

From: GCIDE
  • 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]

Words containing 'The heathen'