[hea.then] adj [ME hethen, fr. OE haethen; akin to OHG heidan heathen, and prob. to OE haeth heath] (bef. 12c) 1: of or relating to heathens, their religions, or their customs
2: strange, uncivilized
[2]heathen n, pl heathens or heathen (bef. 12c) 1: an unconverted member of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of the Bible
2: an uncivilized or irreligious person -- hea.then.dom n -- hea.then.ism n -- hea.then.ize vt