The quality or state of being heathen; the characteristic beliefs, practices, or manner of heathens.
From 'heathen' (noun or adjective) plus the suffix '-ness' (Old English '-nes'), which converts adjectives to abstract nouns representing qualities. This formation parallels other '-ness' words for religious or moral qualities.
The noun 'heathenness' carries a weight of judgment that the simpler word 'heathen' doesn't—adding '-ness' makes it sound like an inherent, unchangeable quality of a person or culture.
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