heathen

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heathen OE. hǣðen = OS. hēthin (Du. heiden), OHG. heidan (G. heide), ON. heiðinn, in Goth. repr. by haiþnō Gentile woman; gen. regarded as a spec. Christian use (perh. originating in Gothic) of Gmc. adj. *χaiþanaz, -inaz inhabiting open country, savage, f. *χaiþiz HEATH1; see -EN1.
Hence heathendom OE. hǣðendōm. heathenish OE. hǣōenisċ.

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