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heathenish

heathenish

9.9
Having religious customs not part of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam
  • adjective
  • /ˈhiːθənɪʃ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : pagano
  • The festival celebrated by the locals was often labeled as heathenish due to its pagan origins.

Examples

  • Nice and heathenish, even pagan though.

    Blog text (15)
  • His views on morality were seen as heathenish, reflecting his rejection of mainstream religious beliefs.

  • "Doing some wild, papish, heathenish business, no doubt.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Their goal was not punishment; instead, they hoped to convert the "pagans" away from their heathenish religion.

    Academic text (2007)
  • In fact, it's downright pagan and heathenish.

  • Their only creed is that which gives them an unrestricted license to gratify a heathenish pleasure.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Further to confront his own anxieties that the church, as it indigenized, was being stereotyped as a heathenish regression, Galilee engaged also with the female IsiZulu uniforms:

    Academic text (2004)
  • The ancient rituals performed by the tribe were considered heathenish by the missionaries.

Synonyms

pagan
vsheathenish
43 7.5

Relating to older religions with many gods, not Christianity, Judaism, or Islam

is used more for people or practices seen as irreligious today
heathen
vsheathenish
  • Offensive
10 8.0

Not believing in the God of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam

refers more broadly to things or practices associated with that unbelief

Antonyms

2.7

Believing in gods or spiritual ideas

37 6.3

Having deep belief in and respect for religion

How Religious

devout
55 5.7
religious
2.7
heathenish
  • Archaic
9.9
irreligious
3 8.6

Surface Forms

heathenish positive

Morphology

heathenish = heathen (transparent) = heathen + ish

The adjective is directly formed from 'heathen' with the productive suffix '-ish' meaning 'having the qualities of' or 'like', so the meaning is predictable from the base.

Etymology

The word heathenish comes from heathen, which itself comes from heath meaning 'open land'. People who lived on the heath were seen as outside the Christian towns, so heathenish came to mean 'like people who do not follow the main religions'.