English
paganism
Paganism comes from Latin pāgānismus ‘heathenism’, from pāgānus ‘peasant, rural, rustic’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ǵ- ‘to fasten, fix’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peh₂ǵ-‘to fasten, fix’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpāgus‘area outside of a city, countryside’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpāgānus‘peasant, rural, rustic’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpāgānismus‘heathenism’
- Englishtodaypaganism
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peh₂ǵ-‘to fasten, fix’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpāgus‘area outside of a city, countryside’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpāgānus‘peasant, rural, rustic’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpāgānismus‘heathenism’
- Englishtodaypaganism
Equivalent to pagan + -ism
Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ǵ- ‘to fasten, fix’
Latin pāgus ‘area outside of a city, countryside’
Latin pāgānus ‘rural, rustic’
Middle English pagan
English pagan
The story
The term was used pejoratively by local Orthodox Christian Demonyms to belittle what remained of alternative native ideas and ideals.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ǵ- ‘to fasten, fix’
travel, page, pole, compact, pale, peel, propaganda, propagate, travail, pala, pectin, impinge, palisade, pagination, impactor, 29 more
through Latin pāgus ‘area outside of a city, countryside’
Today it means
noun Any indigenous polytheistic religion.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ǵ- / paganism