Old English
Etymology 1
From Proto-Germanic *haiþinaz; 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. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, 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 heiðr (honour, bright weather).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈxæː.θen/, [ˈhæː.ðen]
Adjective
hǣþen
- 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
Descendants
Etymology 2
From Proto-Germanic *hadinaz, *hidanaz (“skirt”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈxæ.θen/, [ˈhæ.ðen]
Noun
hæþen m
- Alternative form of heden
Declension
Declension of hæþen (strong a-stem)