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Definition 2025

hæþen

hæþen

Old English

Adjective

hǣþen

  1. pagan, heathen

Declension

Weak Strong
case singular plural case singular plural
m n f m n f m n f
nominative hǣþ(e)na hǣþ(e)ne hǣþ(e)ne hǣþ(e)nan nom. hǣþen hǣþen hǣþ(e)nu hǣþ(e)ne hǣþ(e)nu, -e hǣþ(e)na, -e
accusative hǣþ(e)nan hǣþ(e)ne hǣþ(e)nan acc. hǣþenne hǣþen hǣþ(e)ne hǣþ(e)ne hǣþ(e)nu, -e hǣþ(e)na, -e
genitive hǣþ(e)nan hǣþenra, hǣþ(e)nena gen. hǣþ(e)nes hǣþ(e)nes hǣþenre hǣþenra
dative hǣþ(e)nan hǣþ(e)num dat. hǣþ(e)num hǣþ(e)num hǣþenre hǣþ(e)num
instrumental hǣþ(e)ne

Descendants

Etymology

Cognate to Old Frisian hêthin, hêthen, Old High German heidan, Old Norse heiðinn, Gothic *𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌽𐍃 ‎(haiþns, “gentile”) (attested as feminine 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌽𐍉 ‎(haiþno)). The Germanic word is primarily an adjective. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, perhaps influenced by Ancient Greek ἔθνος ‎(éthnos, “nation, heathen”), via the loans from Greek in Coptic ϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ‎(hethnos) and/or Old Armenian հեթանոս ‎(hetʿanos). The stem-vowel was influenced by haiþi ‎(“heath”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈhæːðen/

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