Definitions from Merriam-Webster Online, 9/30/05

pagan

Pronunciation: `pA-g&n

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin paganus, from Latin, civilian, country dweller, from pagus country district; akin to Latin pangere to fix.

1: HEATHEN; especially: a follower of a polytheistic religion (as in ancient Rome)

2: one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods: an irreligious or hedonistic person

3: NEO-PAGAN

pagan adjective

paganish adjective

pantheism

Pronunciation: `pan-theE-"i-z&m

Function: noun

Etymology: French panthéisme, from panthéiste pantheist, from English pantheist, from pan- + Greek theos god

1: a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe

2: the worship of all gods of different creeds, cults, or peoples indifferently; also: toleration of worship of all gods (as at certain periods of the Roman empire)

pantheist noun

polytheism

Pronunciation: `pa-lE-"thE-"i-z&m

Function: noun

Etymology: French polytheisme, from Late Greek polytheos polytheistic, from Greek, of many gods, from poly- + theos god

belief in or worship of more than one god

polytheistical adjective

neo-pagan

Pronunciation: `pA-g&n

Function: noun

a person who practices a contemporary form of paganism (as Wicca)

neo-pagan adjective

neo-paganism noun

heathen

Pronunciation: `hE-[th] &n

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English hethen, from Old English h[AE]then; akin to Old High German heidan heathen, and probably to Old English h[AE]th heath

1: of or relating to heathens , their religions, or their customs

2: strange, uncivilized

Myth's Notes: These definitions, which were taken from a standard online dictionary, relate to an essay, Pagan, Pantheism, Polytheism, "Oh, Those P Words."

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