hethen

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English hǣþen, from Proto-Germanic *haiþinaz; possibly equivalent to heeth +‎ -en (pertaining to).

Alternative forms

• heðene, hæðen, hæðene, haythen, hæþenn, heþen, heþene, hathen, hethyn, heþyn

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛːðən/

Adjective

hethen

2. heathen, pagan; of those who are not Christian

Usage notes

Jews are sometimes considered to be hethen, but sometimes are not considered to be such.

Related terms

• haithen-hede
• hæðene-scipe
• hæthendom
• hethenli
• hethenesse

Descendants

• English: heathen
• Scots: haithen

References

• “hēthen, adj. & n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-27.

Noun

hethen

2. heathen, pagan; those who are not Christian

Descendants

• English: heathen
• Scots: haithen

References

• “hēthen, adj. & n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-27.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Old Norse héðan.

Alternative forms

• heðen, heþen, heþenn, ethen, heythen, hethin, hiþen, heþin, heiþen, hithen

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈheːðən/, /ˈhɛːðən/

Adverb

hethen

1. away, outwards, not here (referring to movement)
2. away, far off, not around (referring to location)
3. Outside or away from this world or realm.
4. Starting or beginning from this time; from now.

Related terms

• hethens
• hethen-ward

Descendants

• English: hethen (obsolete)

References

• “hēthen, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-27.