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# pagan

noun (a pagan, pagans); adjective (pagan)

«pagan» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (history) A pagan was a person who followed an old religion with many gods and goddesses, before Christianity or Islam spread, such as the old religions of the Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/#m1)
2. (today) A Pagan is a follower of a modern nature-based religion, such as Wicca or Druidry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/#m2)
3. (old, often unkind) Christians in the past used «pagan» for anyone who was not Christian, Jewish or Muslim. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/#m3)

### In the lessons

In history and religious education lessons Anglo-Saxons and Vikings were pagans who worshipped gods like Woden (Odin) and Thor; many days of the week come from pagan gods (Wednesday = Woden's day, Thursday = Thor's day). Some Christian festivals took over pagan customs, such as Yule and Easter eggs. Phrases: «pagan gods», «pagan festivals», «pagan times».

### Examples

- The Anglo-Saxons were pagans before they became Christian. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/#x1)
- Thursday is named after the pagan god Thor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/#x2)
- Stonehenge was built long before Christianity, in pagan times. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/#x3)
- Some Christmas customs, like holly and the Yule log, have pagan roots. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/#x4)
- Modern Pagans celebrate the summer solstice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/#x5)
- The missionaries tried to turn the pagans to Christianity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/#x6)
- The pagan wielder of the thunderbolt is represented in modern traditions by more than one Christian saint. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/#x7)

### Note

Capital «Pagan» often for modern Pagans as a religion; small «pagan» for history. In the past it was sometimes used as an insult, so use it carefully and respectfully. Said «PAY-gun».

## In Jewish tradition

In history and religious education lessons Anglo-Saxons and Vikings were pagans who worshipped gods like Woden (Odin) and Thor; many days of the week come from pagan gods (Wednesday = Woden's day, Thursday = Thor's day). Some Christian festivals took over pagan customs, such as Yule and Easter eggs. Phrases: «pagan gods», «pagan festivals», «pagan times».

### Note

Capital «Pagan» often for modern Pagans as a religion; small «pagan» for history. In the past it was sometimes used as an insult, so use it carefully and respectfully. Said «PAY-gun».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pagan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pagan/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pagan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pagan.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «pagan» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pagan/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pagan» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/pagan.html) on Mova free.