Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pagan"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pagan \Pa"gan\ (p[=a]"gan), n. [L. paganus a countryman,
peasant, villager, a pagan, fr. paganus of or pertaining to
the country, rustic, also, pagan, fr. pagus a district,
canton, the country, perh. orig., a district with fixed
boundaries: cf. pangere to fasten. Cf. {Painim}, {Peasant},
and {Pact}, also {Heathen}.]
One who worships false gods; an idolater; a heathen; one who
is neither a Christian, a Mohammedan, nor a Jew.
Neither having the accent of Christians, nor the gait
of Christian, pagan, nor man. --Shak.
Syn: Gentile; heathen; idolater.
Usage: {Pagan}, {Gentile}, {Heathen}. Gentile was applied to
the other nations of the earth as distinguished from
the Jews. Pagan was the name given to idolaters in the
early Christian church, because the villagers, being
most remote from the centers of instruction, remained
for a long time unconverted. Heathen has the same
origin. Pagan is now more properly applied to rude and
uncivilized idolaters, while heathen embraces all who
practice idolatry.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pagan \Pa"gan\, a. [L. paganus of or pertaining to the country,
pagan. See {Pagan}, n.]
Of or pertaining to pagans; relating to the worship or the
worshipers of false goods; heathen; idolatrous, as, pagan
tribes or superstitions.
And all the rites of pagan honor paid. --Dryden.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
pagan
adj : not acknowledging the God of Christianity and Judaism and
Islam [syn: {heathen}, {heathenish}]
n : a person who does not acknowledge your God [syn: {heathen},
{gentile}, {infidel}]
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