2. Belonging to, characteristic of, or constituting another and very different place, society, or person; strange. See Synonyms at foreign. 3. Dissimilar, inconsistent, or opposed, as in nature: emotions alien to her temperament.
n, pl -thens or -then. 1. (Alternative Belief Systems) a person who does not acknowledge the God of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam; pagan. 2. an uncivilized or barbaric person. 3. (Alternative Belief Systems) the heathen (functioning as plural) heathens collectively.
verb (used with object) 1. to change (something) into a different form or properties; transmute; transform. 2. to cause to adopt a different religion, political doctrine, opinion, etc.: to convert the heathen. 3. to turn to another or a particular use or purpose; divert from the original or intended use: