paganize

English

Alternative forms

• paganise

Etymology

From pagan +‎ -ize.

Verb

paganize (third-person singular simple present paganizes, present participle paganizing, simple past and past participle paganized)

1. (transitive) To convert (someone) to paganism.

   Synonym: heathenize

2. (intransitive, obsolete) To behave like a pagan.
   • 1641, John Milton, “Animadversions upon The Remonstrants Defence against Smectymnuus”, in A Complete Collection of the Historical, Political, and Miscellaneous Works of John Milton‎^[1], volume 1, London: A. Millar, published 1738, page 85:

     This was that which made the old Christians paganize, while by their scandalous and base conforming to Heathenism they did no more, when they had done their utmost, but bring some Pagans to christianize; for true Christians they neither were themselves, nor could make other such in this fashion.

Derived terms

• depaganize
• paganization
• paganizer
• repaganize
• unpaganize