ethnic English · revision 5904

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1375|origins=grc ἐθνικός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈeθ.nɪk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|ethnicus|t=heathen]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from Greek [[m|grc|ἐθνικός|tr=ethnikós|t=of a nation, national; foreign, gentile]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(AHD) from [[m|grc|ἔθνος|tr=éthnos|t=band of people, nation, tribe]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from PIE *swedh-no-, from the root [[ine-pro|*s(w)e-|t=self]], which also formed words for one's own social group.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) In the Septuagint, the Greek ta ethnē translated Hebrew gōyīm, “the nations” not worshipping the God of Israel (see [[goy]]), and this gave the Christian sense “heathen”.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, a person who is neither Christian nor Jewish, a heathen: about 1375, in Scots, in Barnhart and the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The adjective “pagan, heathen” is from about 1470,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) after ethnical in the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The AHD notes that the noun in the sense “heathen” is not recorded after 1728, while the adjective broadened in the 19th century, probably under the influence of [[ethnography]] and [[ethnology]].^(AHD) Peculiar to a race or nation is from 1851,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and belonging to different cultural groups from 1935.^(Barnhart 1988) The ethnic minority is from 1945 in the OED, the 1910s in Word Origins,^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021) and the noun, a member of an ethnic group, is American from 1945.^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD)^(Etymonline) Of music and food in the style of a particular people, it dates from the later 20th century, 1957 for music;^(OED 1989) ''ethnic cleansing'' is found in texts from the 1990s.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1375 – a heathen.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1470 – the adjective, pagan.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1728 – last record of the noun “heathen”.^(AHD)

+ * 1851 – peculiar to a race or nation.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1935 – of cultural groups.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1945 – a member of an ethnic group.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1990s – ethnic cleansing.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to a large group of people who share a [[race|alt=racial]], national, religious, linguistic or cultural heritage.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Belonging to such a group, especially a [[minority]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Typical of the traditions of a particular people or culture: ''ethnic food''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Heathen, pagan.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A member of an ethnic group, especially one who keeps its language or customs.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ethnically]]

+ * [[interethnic]]

+ * [[multiethnic]]

+ * [[nonethnic]]

+ * [[polyethnic]]

+ * [[ethnic cleansing]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ethnical]]

+ * [[ethnicity]]

+ * [[ethnocentric]]

+ * [[ethnography]]

+ * [[ethnology]]

+ * [[ethos]]

+ * [[idiom]]

+ * [[goy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}