hethenesse

Middle English

Alternative forms

heðenesse, hethynnesse, hethenes, heþenesse, heþinesse, heþennisse, haðenesse, hethness, hethenenesse, heþennes, hethynes, heþynes, hathennes

Etymology

From Old English hǣþenes, hǣþennes; equivalent to hethen (“heathen”) +‎ -nesse, but vowel reduction shows that by the Late ME period it was no longer analysed as such.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈhɛːð(ə)nɛs/

Noun

hethenesse

The portion of the world controlled or populated by pagans or Muslims, or any part of this portion of the world.
heathenry, paganism; belief in a pagan religion.
Pagan doctrine or habits; the trappings of a pagan religion.
As well in Christendom as in Heatheness, Chaucer, Canterbury Tales

Descendants

English: heathenesse

References

“hēthenes(se (n.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-28.

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