Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “hethen” come from?

hethen (Middle English) comes from Old Norse héðan, from Old Norse hér, from Proto-Germanic hē₂r, from Proto-Indo-European ḱe, from Middle English kyt, from German kitt, from Old High German kuti, from Proto-West Germanic kwidu — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

hethen (Middle English): heathen, pagan; of those who are not Christian;...

Definitions

  1. heathen, pagan; of those who are not Christian;...

Ancestry of “hethen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsehéðanhence
2Old Norsehérhere
3Proto-Germanichē₂rhere, in this place
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
5Middle Englishkyt—
6Germankitt—
7Old High Germankuti—
8Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
9Proto-Germanickweduzresin
10Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
11Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “hethen”

  • heathen
  • heathenism
  • Heathen
  • heathenish
  • heathenry
  • Heathenry
  • heathenness
  • heathenishly
  • heathenize
  • heathenistic
  • heatheness
  • heathenishness
  • heathenise
  • heathenly
  • heathenization
  • hethenli
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →