"Race " meaning - Oxford English Dictionary

Submitted by Robert (United States), Mar 20, 2017 at 02:15

Dear Michael S,

There seems to be a little progress developing in understanding between us.

Now I wish to bring your attention to the Meaning of the term "Race" as given by the online Oxford English Dictionary; notice also that this word only entered the English language in the 16th century. I would like you to observe that the OED makes NO reference to Genetics:

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/race

I'm also Cutting & Pasting the relevant part below:

race 2 NOUN

1 Each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics.
'people of all races, colours, and creeds'

More example sentences Synonyms

1.1 mass noun The fact or condition of belonging to a racial division or group; the qualities or characteristics associated with this.

Example sentences

1.2 A group of people sharing the same culture, history, language, etc.; an ethnic group.
'we Scots were a bloodthirsty race then'

More example sentences Synonyms

1.3 A group or set of people or things with a common feature or features.
'the upper classes thought of themselves as a race apart'

More example sentences Synonyms

1.4 Biology A population within a species that is distinct in some way, especially a subspecies.
'people have killed so many tigers that two races are probably extinct'

More example sentences

1.5 (in non-technical use) each of the major divisions of living creatures.
'a member of the human race'
'the race of birds'

More example sentences

1.6 literary A group of people descended from a common ancestor.
'a prince of the race of Solomon'

More example sentences Synonyms

1.7 archaic mass noun Ancestry.
'two coursers of ethereal race'

Usage
In recent years, the associations of race with the ideologies and theories that grew out of the work of 19th-century anthropologists and physiologists has led to the use of the word race itself becoming problematic. Although still used in general contexts, it is now often replaced by other words which are less emotionally charged, such as people(s) or community

Origin
Early 16th century (denoting a group with common features): via French from Italian razza, of unknown ultimate origin.

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