[eth.nic] adj [ME, fr. LL ethnicus, fr. Gk ethnikos national, gentile, fr. ethnos nation, people; akin to Gk ethos custom--more at sib] (15c) 1: heathen
2. a: of or relating to large groups of people classed according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background "~ minorities" "~ enclaves" b: being a member of an ethnic group c: of, relating to, or characteristic of ethnics "~ neighborhoods" "~ foods"
[2]ethnic n (1941): a member of an ethnic group; esp: a member of a minority group who retains the customs, language, or social views of the group