Etymology Explorer › English

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

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpāgānismus—
2Latinpāgānus—
3Latinpāgus—
4Proto-Italicpāgos—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂ǵos—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂ǵ-to attach

Words derived from “paganism”

  • neopaganism
  • Christopaganism
  • technopaganism
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ- →