| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
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properly means “belonging to a village” (Latin, pagus). The Christian Church fixed itself first in cities, the centres of intelligence. Long after it had been established in towns, idolatrous practices continued to be observed in rural districts and villages, so pagan and villager came to mean the same thing. (See HEATHEN.) | 1 |
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