pay·nim \ˈpānə̇m\noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English painim, from Old French paienime, from Late Latin paganismus heathendom, from paganus heathen (from Latin, country dweller) + Latin -ismus -ism — more at pagan 1.archaic: pagandom 2.archaic: pagan, infidel < clasped like a missal where swart paynims pray — John Keats > especially: muhammadan