What does pagan mean?

Definitions for pagan
ˈpeɪ gənpa·gan

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word pagan.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. heathen, pagan, gentile, infidelnoun

    a person who does not acknowledge your god

  2. pagannoun

    a person who follows a polytheistic or pre-Christian religion (not a Christian or Muslim or Jew)

  3. hedonist, pagan, pleasure seekeradjective

    someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures

  4. heathen, heathenish, pagan, ethnicadjective

    not acknowledging the God of Christianity and Judaism and Islam

Wiktionary

  1. pagannoun

    A person not adhering to any major or recognized religion, especially a heathen or non-Abrahamist, follower of a pantheistic or nature-worshipping religion, neopagan.

    This community has a surprising number of pagans.

  2. pagannoun

    An uncivilized or unsocialized person

  3. pagannoun

    Especially an unruly, badly educated child.

  4. paganadjective

    Relating to, characteristic of or adhering to non-Abrahamist religions, especially earlier polytheism.

    Many converted societies transformed their pagan deities into saints.

  5. paganadjective

    Savage, immoral, uncivilized, wild.

  6. Pagannoun

    A male given name from Latin.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Paganadjective

    Heathenish.

    Their cloaths are after such a pagan cut too,
    That sure they have worn out Christendom. William Shakespeare.

    The secret ceremonies I conceal,
    Uncouth, perhaps unlawful, to reveal;
    But such they were as Pagan use requir’d. Dryden.

  2. PAGANnoun

    A Heathen; one not a Christian.

    Etymology: paganisc , Saxon; paganus, Latin; from pagus, a village; the villages continuing heathen after the cities were christian.

Wikipedia

  1. pagan

    Paganism (from classical Latin pāgānus "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Judaism. In the time of the Roman empire, individuals fell into the pagan class either because they were increasingly rural and provincial relative to the Christian population, or because they were not milites Christi (soldiers of Christ). Alternative terms used in Christian texts were hellene, gentile, and heathen. Ritual sacrifice was an integral part of ancient Graeco-Roman religion and was regarded as an indication of whether a person was pagan or Christian. Paganism has broadly connoted the "religion of the peasantry".During and after the Middle Ages, the term paganism was applied to any non-Christian religion, and the term presumed a belief in false god(s). The origin of the application of the term "pagan" to polytheism is debated. In the 19th century, paganism was adopted as a self-descriptor by members of various artistic groups inspired by the ancient world. In the 20th century, it came to be applied as a self-descriptor by practitioners of Modern Paganism, Neopagan movements and Polytheistic reconstructionists. Modern pagan traditions often incorporate beliefs or practices, such as nature worship, that are different from those of the largest world religions.Contemporary knowledge of old pagan religions and beliefs comes from several sources, including anthropological field research records, the evidence of archaeological artifacts, and the historical accounts of ancient writers regarding cultures known to Classical antiquity. Most modern pagan religions existing today (Modern or Neopaganism) express a world view that is pantheistic, panentheistic, polytheistic or animistic, but some are monotheistic.

ChatGPT

  1. pagan

    A pagan is a person who follows a polytheistic or pantheistic religion, particularly one that is non-Abrahamic (doesn't follow Judaism, Christianity, or Islam). The term is often used to refer to ancient or tribal religions, such as those of the ancient Greeks, Romans, or Celts. It can also refer to contemporary religions that draw on these traditions, like Wicca or certain forms of neo-paganism. Some pagans may consider themselves atheistic or agnostic but still follow pagan traditions and values. The term "pagan" was historically used in a derogatory manner to denote religions considered non-mainstream or primitive, but is now self-identified by many as a sign of their spiritual beliefs.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Pagannoun

    one who worships false gods; an idolater; a heathen; one who is neither a Christian, a Mohammedan, nor a Jew

  2. Pagannoun

    of or pertaining to pagans; relating to the worship or the worshipers of false goods; heathen; idolatrous, as, pagan tribes or superstitions

  3. Etymology: [L. paganus of or pertaining to the country, pagan. See Pagan, n.]

Wikidata

  1. Pagan

    Pagan is an album by Celtic metal band Cruachan released in 2004.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Pagan

    pā′gan, n. a heathen: one who does not worship the true God.—adj. heathenish: pertaining to the worship of false gods.—v.t. Pā′ganise, to render pagan or heathen: to convert to paganism.—adj. Pā′ganish, heathenish.—n. Pā′ganism, heathenism: the beliefs and practices of the heathen. [L. paganus, a rustic, heathen, because the country-people were later in becoming Christians than the people of the towns—pagus, a district—pangĕre, to fix.]

Etymology and Origins

  1. Pagan

    This term had at first not the slightest connection with religion. Derived from the Latin pagus, the country, a paganus denoted a peasant or villager. Removed from the refinement of the cities such a one had, of course, very little acquaintance with the complicated system of Roman mythology. On this account only could it be said that those who remained unconverted to Christianity were Pagans.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. PAGAN

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pagan is ranked #1528 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Pagan surname appeared 23,474 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 would have the surname Pagan.

    84.6% or 19,859 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    11.9% or 2,815 total occurrences were White.
    2% or 486 total occurrences were Black.
    0.7% or 167 total occurrences were Asian.
    0.5% or 127 total occurrences were of two or more races.
    0% or 21 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Matched Categories

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of pagan in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of pagan in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of pagan in a Sentence

  1. George Gordon Byron:

    There is something Pagan in me that I cannot shake off. In short, I deny nothing, but doubt everything.

  2. Albert Camus:

    Everyone would like to behave like a pagan, with everyone else behaving like a Christian.

  3. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images -RRB- Arroyo:

    Now, while I completely reject this pagan tradition, as the year comes to an end, I will avail myself of the airing of grievances because I've got a lot of problems too.

  4. Leatrice Eiseman:

    This belief started in ancient times, as it was seen as the color reflective of love, both earthly and heavenly. Greek muses wore orange, as did Bacchus, the pagan Roman god, in general terms, a color ascribed to a god perpetuated the hope and belief of immortality.

  5. Colin Campbell:

    Indeed, the Founders mentioned the pagan authors in so many heartfelt speeches, pamphlets and letters that today's sweeping references to America's 'Christian' roots and 'Judeo-Christian heritage' ought to be amended. Maybe these terms should be reserved to explain the traditional religions and morality of individuals, families, congregations, small communitities. Politically, our notions of virtue and vice have had another genesis.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for pagan

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"pagan." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/pagan>.

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