hæþen
Old English
[edit]Etymology 1
[edit]From Proto-Germanic *haiþinaz, probably a specifically Christian use of the base of *haiþī (“uncultivated land”).[1]
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
[edit]- hǣðen — edh spelling
Pronunciation
[edit]Adjective
[edit]hǣþen
Declension
[edit]Derived terms
[edit]Descendants
[edit]Etymology 2
[edit]From Proto-Germanic *hadinaz, *hidanaz (“skirt”) (compare *hōdaz (“hood”)).
Alternative forms
[edit]- hæðen — edh spelling
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]hæþen m
- Alternative form of heden
Declension
[edit]Strong a-stem:
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | hæþen | hæþnas |
| accusative | hæþen | hæþnas |
| genitive | hæþnes | hæþna |
| dative | hæþne | hæþnum |
References
[edit]- ^ James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Hæþen”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC.