What does paganized mean?
Paganized is the past tense and past participle of paganize, a transitive verb meaning to convert people to paganism or to deprive a place, institution, or tradition of its Christian or otherwise monotheistic character. The word commonly describes the religious consequences of conquest, migration, or imperial expansion, as when invading rulers imposed their own gods and ceremonies on a conquered population. It can also have a broader cultural meaning: a sanctuary may be described as paganized if it has been transformed into a site of worship associated with pagan deities, while a work or institution may be called paganized when it incorporates such religious elements. In modern discussion, the term is often historical and may carry negative connotations, suggesting the destruction or suppression of an established religious tradition. Its British spelling is usually paganised.
verbTo convert someone to paganism or to make something pagan in character, influence, or practice. It can also refer to rendering a place, institution, or cultural tradition partly or wholly associated with pre-Christian religion.
- To convert people to paganism or cause them to abandon Christianity or another organized religion.
- To make a place, institution, work, or cultural practice associated with pagan religion or influence.
"The invading rulers gradually paganized the local sacred sites and religious traditions."
"Missionaries resisted efforts to paganize the indigenous communities."
"The invaders paganized the temple by replacing its religious images with those of their own gods."
A word for the transformation of belief: to paganize is to turn a people or place away from a particular religious tradition.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of paganized
The word comes from English pagan, which in turn derives from Latin paganus, originally meaning “a country dweller” and later used for someone who was not Christian. The religious sense arose from the early Christian contrast between Christian communities and the inhabitants of the Roman countryside who retained older religious practices. The suffix -ize was added to form paganize in the 19th century, and paganized follows that verb.
Related word forms
How paganized is actually used
The word is chiefly historical and often carries the implication that the change was imposed through conquest, coercion, or cultural erosion. It is normally transitive, although it can occasionally be used intransitively. The spelling with z is standard in American English; British English commonly uses the spelling with s.
Easily confused with paganized
Paganised is the standard British spelling of the same verb form, whereas paganized is the usual American spelling.