I. ˈpāgən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin paganus, from Latin, civilian, country dweller, from paganus, adjective, of the country, from pagus country, village, district; akin to Latin pangere to fix, fasten, pacisci to agree, contract — more at pact
1. : heathen 1 ; especially : a follower of a polytheistic religion (as in ancient Rome)
2. : one that has little or no religion and that is marked by a frank delight in and uninhibited seeking after sensual pleasures and material goods : an unrestrained irreligious hedonist and materialist
is a pagan of the decadence … takes the world with exquisite nonchalance and prefers a well-ordered dinner to a dissertation on the immortality of the soul — T.L.Peacock
II. adjective
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of pagans : heathenish
pagan customs
represents the earthy, pagan acceptance of life in all its sensual vulgarity — R.M.Kain
the pagan concept of death and oblivion as the natural end of life — Cyril Connolly
• pa·gan·ly adverb