Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “heathendom” come from?

Heathendom comes from Old English hǣþendōm, a formation from hǣþen meaning pagan or non-Christian combined with the suffix -dōm denoting a state or domain.

heathendom (English): The state of being heathen; From one religion's...

Definitions

  1. The state of being heathen; From one religion's...

Ancestry of “heathendom”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishhæthendomheathenry, paganism; Pagan doctrine or habits
2Old Englishhǣþendōm—
Every word from Old English hǣþendōm →