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Where does the word "pagan" come from? It comes from Latin paganus, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "pagan" come from? It comes from Latin paganus, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1300s).
Pagan’s story begins in Latin: paganus meant “villager, rustic.” From 'pagus', country district. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as paganus. Christians used it for those outside the faith; English took it directly from Latin. It reached English by 1300s as pagan. The neo-pagan revival dates from the 1900s. Today, pagan means a follower of a non-mainstream religion.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient paganus "villager, rustic", from 'pagus', country district.
- Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient paganus "non-Christian", Christians used it for those outside the faith; English took it directly from Latin.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s pagan "heathen", the neo-pagan revival dates from the 1900s.