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You are here: Home / History / Where does the term “pagan” come from and what does it mean in Latin?

Where does the term “pagan” come from and what does it mean in Latin?

February 18, 2020 by Karen Hill

Like most English words, the term “pagan” is Latin in origin.

The word comes from the root word paganus, which means “peasant.”

During the mass conversion of Rome to Christianity, the peasants and farmers were the last to be converted, and so the childish name-calling began.

Lots of childish folks back then. Lots of childish folks even today.

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Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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