Where does “paganism” come from?

Paganism derives from Latin paganismus, formed from Latin paganus combined with Ancient Greek -ισμός, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ- and -mós.

paganism (English): Any indigenous polytheistic religion; Any of a...

Definitions

  1. Any indigenous polytheistic religion; Any of a...

Ancestry of “paganism”, step by step

paganism traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Latin pāgānismus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpāgānismusheathenry, paganism, heathenism
2Latinpāgānusof or pertaining to the countryside, rural, rustic
3Latinpāgusdistrict, canton, region
4Proto-Italicpāgos—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂ǵos—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂ǵ-to attach

via French paganisme

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchpaganismepaganism
2Ecclesiastical Latinpaganismus—

Words derived from “paganism”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵos →Every word from Proto-Italic pāgos →