pro-ˈethnic, a.
[pro-1 and pro-2.]
1. Philol. Anterior to the division of the primitive Aryans into separate nations or peoples, or of any people or race into separate tribes.
| 1864 Max Müller Sc. Lang. (1868) 383 Ser. ii. viii. Deriving both from a common Aryan or pro-ethnic source. 1887 R. S. Conway Verner's Law in Italy §5 Medial s between vowels..became voiced (z) in pro-ethnic Italic. 1906 J. H. Moulton Gram. N.T. Gk. I. ix. 221 The Greek participle..represents the proëthnic participle. 1935 G. K. Zipf Psycho-Biol. of Lang. iv. 162 The shift in accent which took place in almost every Indo-European dialect after the pro-ethnic parent language broke up into its dialects. |
2. Favouring the Gentiles, as opp. to the Jews. rare.
| 1920 R. Harris Testimonies II. ii. 13 Propagating by testimonies a Gospel which is at once pro-ethnic and anti-Judaic. |
Hence pro-ˈethnically adv.
| 1920 R. Harris Testimonies II. ii. 16 As it is written: Father of many nations (ἐθνῶν) have I set thee... The extract from Genesis turns on the use of the word ἐθνῶν, and the words are used pro-ethnically. |