Negro, black

Negro, black
A Negro is a member of the Negroid ethnic division of the human species. (Negroid is a term in anthropology applying to people who have black or brown pigmentation.) Negro, always spelled with a capital letter, is pluralized Negroes. Negro is a reputable term with scientific backing, but many people prefer the word black, perhaps for the same reason that white is usually preferred to Caucasian. In the United States, the term Afro-American is increasingly popular. Terms such as Negress (See actor), Nigra, nigger, darky, and spade are offensive, contemptuous, evasive, and condescending words understandably resented by all blacks.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • Negro — (n.) member of a black skinned race of Africa, 1550s, from Sp. or Port. negro black, from L. nigrum (nom. niger) black, dark, sable, dusky, figuratively gloomy, unlucky, bad, wicked, of unknown origin (perhaps from PIE *nekw t night, Cf. Watkins) …   Etymology dictionary

  • Negro — Ne gro (n[=e] gr[ o]), n.; pl. {Negroes} (n[=e] gr[=o]z). [Sp. or Pg. negro, fr. negro black, L. niger; perh. akin to E. night.] A black man; especially, one of a race of black or very dark persons who inhabit the greater part of tropical Africa …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Negro — Negro1 [nē′grō] n. pl. Negroes [Sp & Port negro, black, black person < L niger, black] 1. a member of any of the indigenous dark skinned peoples of Africa, living chiefly south of the Sahara 2. a person having some African ancestors; a black… …   English World dictionary

  • Black rice — as sold in China For the Valencian dish, see Arroz negro. Black rice is a kind of sticky rice which is one of several black colored heirloom plants producing rice variants such as Indonesian black rice and Thai Jasmine Black Rice. Black rice is… …   Wikipedia

  • Negro — /nee groh/, n., pl. Negroes, adj. n. 1. Anthropol. a member of the peoples traditionally classified as the Negro race, esp. those who originate in sub Saharan Africa: no longer in technical use. adj. 2. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of one …   Universalium

  • Negro — I Ne•gro [[t]ˈni groʊ[/t]] n. pl. groes, adj. older use: sometimes off. 1) off pan a member of any of the indigenous peoples of sub Saharan Africa, or one of their descendants 2) pan of or designating Negroes • Etymology: 1545–55; < Sp and Pg… …   From formal English to slang

  • Negro — Ne|gro [ˈni:grəu US grou] n plural Negroes old fashioned [Date: 1500 1600; : Spanish; Origin: Portuguese, from negro black , from Latin niger] a word for a black person, which is now usually considered offensive >negro adj …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Negro — I. noun (plural Negroes) Etymology: Spanish or Portuguese, from negro black, from Latin nigr , niger Date: 1555 sometimes offensive a member of a race of humankind native to Africa and classified according to physical features (as dark skin… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Negro — See Negro, black …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • black — See Negro, black …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

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