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by ScottFree 2625 days ago
If you look up the definitions of those words using the 1828 dictionary, you get something very interesting.

ETH'NICAL, adjective [Latin ethnicus; Gr. from nation from the root of G. heide, heath, woods, whence heathen. See Heathen.]

Heathen; pagan; pertaining to the gentiles or nations not converted to christianity; opposed to Jewish and Christian.

ETH'NIC, noun A heathen; a pagan.

RACE, noun [Latin radix and radius having the same original. This word coincides in origin with rod, ray, radiate, etc.]

1. The lineage of a family, or continued series of descendants from a parent who is called the stock. A race is the series of descendants indefinitely. Thus all mankind are called the race of Adam; the Israelites are of the race of Abraham and Jacob. Thus we speak of a race of kings, the race of Clovis or Charlemagne; a race of nobles, etc.
1 comments
sandworm101 2625 days ago
Which is more complicated by the US concept of an "american race", something that isn't even seen as racial in term of skin color. It is used to draw a line between those descendants of the stock "real" Americans.

To quote the TV Show American Dad's theme song "Shining a salute to the American race." ... a line I thought would be very controversial but just isn't.

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toasterlovin 2625 days ago
FWIW, I have never encountered the concept of the "American race". Are you sure it's actually a thing? To me the line from American Dad's theme song seems like a joke (since America has many races).
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ScottFree 2625 days ago
According to Webster's 1828 dictionary

AMER'ICAN, noun A native of America; originally applied to the aboriginals, or copper-colored races, found here by the Europeans; but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America.

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toasterlovin 2625 days ago
That's nice, but:

1. It's a definition for the word 'American', not the phrase 'American race'.

2. It's from 1828. I don't think usage from 190 years ago is very relevant. Language changes pretty quickly.

3. That does not match what OP was talking about. They were talking about a further distinction within white Americans. Unless I'm mistaken.

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