eugenic, a. and n. Biol.
(juːˈdʒɛnɪk)
[f. Gr. εὐ- (see eu-) + root γεν- to produce (Gr. had εὐγενής well-born) + -ic.]
A. adj. Pertaining or adapted to the production of fine offspring, esp. in the human race.
| 1883 F. Galton Hum. Faculty 24 Various topics more or less connected with that of the cultivation of race, or as we might call it, with ‘eugenic’ questions. 1886 G. Allen in Fortn. Rev. 1 Oct. 458 The result..would be as bad..if he made the choice [of a wife] himself on abstract biological and ‘Eugenic’ principles. |
B. n. in pl. [after analogy of economics, politics, etc.] The science which has this for its object.
| 1883 F. Galton Hum. Faculty 44 The investigation of human eugenics, that is, of the conditions under which men of a high type are produced. 1890 Univ. Rev. May 54 People will fall in love, in spite of your eugenics. |
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Add: Hence euˈgenicist n. = eugenist n.; also attrib. or as adj.
| 1916 Eugenical News I. v. 35/2 The April and May numbers..are of considerable interest to eugenicists. 1934 C. B. Davenport in Decade Progress in Eugenics (Sci. Papers 3rd Internat. Congr. Eugenics) i. i. 21 The interests of the eugenicist are in improving the quality of those born and increasing the proportion of the socially adequate. 1957 Northern World July–Aug. 7 If we follow the dictates of the eugenicist, there is the hope always that some sound stock will survive. 1989 Atlantic Sept. 10/2 We hope that Professor Herrnstein's eugenicist jeremiad did not make readers too anxious about America's future. |