noun
- plural of paynim; pagans or heathens, especially Muslims as viewed by medieval Christians
Usage: archaic; historical
Examples
- The medieval chronicles described battles against the paynims in the Holy Land.
- Knights in the old tales swore to defeat the paynims and reclaim Jerusalem.
- The term paynims reflected the religious prejudices of medieval European writers.
- Ancient texts often portrayed paynims as enemies of Christendom.
- Scholars study how medieval literature depicted paynims and other non-Christian peoples.