hæþen

Old English

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *haiþinaz, probably a specifically Christian use of the base of *haiþī (“uncultivated land”).

Cognate to Old Frisian hêthin, hêthen, Old High German heidan, Old Norse heiðinn, Gothic *𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌽𐍃 (*haiþns, “gentile”) (attested as feminine 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌸𐌽𐍉 (haiþnō)). The Germanic word is primarily an adjective.

Perhaps influenced by Ancient Greek ἔθνος (éthnos, “nation, heathen”), via the loans from Greek in Coptic ϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ (hethnos) and/or Old Armenian հեթանոս (hetʻanos). The stem-vowel was influenced by haiþi (“heath”). See also Proto-Germanic *haiduz, Old Norse heiðr (honour, bright, moor), Icelandic heiður (honour, bright weather).

Alternative forms

• hǣðen — edh spelling

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxæː.θen/, [ˈhæː.ðen]

Adjective

hǣþen

1. pagan, heathen

Declension

Declension of hǣþen — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	hǣþen	hǣþenu, hǣþnu, hǣþeno, hǣþno	hǣþen
Accusative	hǣþenne	hǣþene, hǣþne	hǣþen
Genitive	hǣþenes, hǣþnes	hǣþenre	hǣþenes, hǣþnes
Dative	hǣþenum, hǣþnum	hǣþenre	hǣþenum, hǣþnum
Instrumental	hǣþene, hǣþne	hǣþenre	hǣþene, hǣþne
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	hǣþene, hǣþne	hǣþena, hǣþna, hǣþene, hǣþne	hǣþenu, hǣþnu, hǣþeno, hǣþno
Accusative	hǣþene, hǣþne	hǣþena, hǣþna, hǣþene, hǣþne	hǣþenu, hǣþnu, hǣþeno, hǣþno
Genitive	hǣþenra	hǣþenra	hǣþenra
Dative	hǣþenum, hǣþnum	hǣþenum, hǣþnum	hǣþenum, hǣþnum
Instrumental	hǣþenum, hǣþnum	hǣþenum, hǣþnum	hǣþenum, hǣþnum

Declension of hǣþen — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	hǣþena, hǣþna	hǣþene, hǣþne	hǣþene, hǣþne
Accusative	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþene, hǣþne
Genitive	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan
Dative	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan
Instrumental	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan
Accusative	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan	hǣþenan, hǣþnan
Genitive	hǣþenra, hǣþenena, hǣþnena	hǣþenra, hǣþenena, hǣþnena	hǣþenra, hǣþenena, hǣþnena
Dative	hǣþenum, hǣþnum	hǣþenum, hǣþnum	hǣþenum, hǣþnum
Instrumental	hǣþenum, hǣþnum	hǣþenum, hǣþnum	hǣþenum, hǣþnum

Derived terms

• hǣþendōm

Descendants

• Middle English: hethen
  • English: heathen
  • Scots: haithen

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *hadinaz, *hidanaz (“skirt”) (compare *hōdaz (“hood”)).

Alternative forms

• hæðen — edh spelling

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxæ.θen/, [ˈhæ.ðen]

Noun

hæþen m

1. Alternative form of heden

Declension

Declension of hæþen (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	hæþen	hæþnas
accusative	hæþen	hæþnas
genitive	hæþnes	hæþna
dative	hæþne	hæþnum