Both Uses of
heathen
in
Othello, the Moor of Venice
- But he, sir, had the election: And I,—of whom his eyes had seen the proof At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds, Christian and heathen,—must be belee'd and calm'd By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster; He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, And I—God bless the mark!†
Scene 1.1 *heathen = someone who is not civilized or not moral OR an offensive term for a person who does not believe in a preferred religion
- Most heathenish and most gross!†
Scene 5.2
Definitions:
-
(1)
(heathen) someone who is not civilized or not moral -- typically said humorously
or:
an offensive term for a person who does not believe in a preferred religion -- especially someone who grew up in a culture that is not familiar with the religion -
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
More rarely, heathen can refer to a person who lacks culture or good taste.