pagan
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who follows a religion that worships nature or many gods, especially one that existed before Christianity.
n.an adherent of a polytheistic or pantheistic religion, typically one predating or distinct from the major monotheistic faiths.
Simple“The ancient pagans celebrated the change of seasons with large outdoor festivals.”
In context“Modern pagans often gather at historic sites like Stonehenge to observe the summer solstice and reconnect with ancestral traditions.”
SynonymspolytheistheathenAntonymsmonotheist - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.relating to ancient or nature-based religious beliefs and customs.
adj.pertaining to the religious beliefs, rituals, or cultural practices of polytheistic or non-Abrahamic societies.
Simple“The museum has a collection of pagan statues from the Roman era.”
In context“The scholar argued that many local winter traditions actually have pagan origins that were later adapted by the church.”
Synonymsheathenpolytheistic
“Patrick ) had arrived on the island to convert its pagan population.”
From Middle English pagan (adjective and noun), from Latin pāgānus (“rural, rustic; civilian”), replaced Middle English payen from the same root. The meaning “not Christian” arose in Vulgar Latin, probably from the 4th century, owing to the Roman countryside being largely non-Christian, or potentially from the “civilian” meaning—denoting those not in the “army of Christ”. As a self-designation of neopagans, attested since 1990. Partly displaced native heathen, from Old English hǣþen.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.