n. & adj.
n. 1 a person who does not belong to a widely-held religion (esp. who is not Christian, Jew, or Muslim) as regarded by those that do. 2 an unenlightened person; a person regarded as lacking culture or moral principles. 3 (the heathen) heathen people collectively. 4 Bibl. a Gentile.
adj. 1 of or relating to heathens. 2 having no religion. heathendom n. heathenism n.
[ OE hthen f. Gmc ]