Lexical Definition

‎ἔθνος‎ éthnos (eth'-nos) Gentiles ^G:N-N
probably from ‎ἔθω‎

Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

• a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe
• specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)

Abbott-Smith

ἔθνος, -ους, τό, [in LXX chiefly for עַם גּוֹי ;]

1. a multitude, a company, whether of beasts or men (Hom.).
2. a nation, people: Mt 21:43 24:7, Mk 13:8, Lk 22:25, Ac 10:35, al.; in sing., of the Jewish people, Lk 7:5 23:2, Jo 11:48, 50-53 18:35, Ac 10:22 24:3, 10 26:4 28:19.
3. In pl., as in OT, τὰ ἔ. (like Heb. הַגּוֹיִם), the nations, as distinct from Israel, Gentiles: Mt 4:15 6:32, Ac 26:17, Ro 3:29 11:11 15:10, Ga 2:8, al.; of Gentile Christians, Ro 11:13 15:27 16:4, Ga 2:12, 14, Eph 3:1.
SYN.: λαός (v. DCG, ii, 229; Cremer, 226).

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

Greek of: גּוֹי

ἔθνος, εος, τό:

(ϝέθνος,[Refs 8th c.BC+]: - number of people living together, company, body of men, ἑτάρων ἔ., ἔ. ἑταίρων, band of comrades, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἔθνος λαῶν host of men, [Refs]; of particular tribes, Αυκίων μέγα ἔ. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of animals, ἔ. μελισσάων, ὀρνίθων, μυιάων, swarms, flocks, etc., [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἔ. ἀνέρων, γυναικῶν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔ. βρότεον, θνατόν, [Refs]; ἔ. τόδε, of the Erinyes, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

__2 after [Refs 8th c.BC+], nation, people, τὸ Μηδικὸν ἔ. (γένος being a subdivision of ἔθνος) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔ. ἠπειρογενές, μαχαιροφόρον, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__2.b later, τὰ ἔ. foreign, barbarous nations, opposed to Ἕλληνες, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἔ. νομάδων, of Bedawîn, [Refs]; at Athens, athletic clubs of non-Athenians, [Refs], non-Jews,[LXX+NT]
__2.c at Rome, = provinciae, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: so in singular, province, ὁ τυραννήσας τοῦ ἔθνους [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ὁ ἡγούμενος τοῦ ἔθνους the governor of the province, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__3 class of men, caste, tribe, τὸ Θετταλῶν.. πενεστικὸν ἔ. [ἔθνος κηρυκικόν [prev. author] “Plt.” 290b ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἶσθά τι ἔ. ἠλιθιώτερον ῥαψῳδῶ; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δημιουργικὸν ἔ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ ἱερὰ ἔ. the orders of priests, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; trade-associations or guilds, ἔθνη καὶ ἐργαστήρια [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; class in respect to rank or station, οὐ πρὸς τοῦτο βλέποντες.. ὅπως.. ἕν τι ἔ. ἔσται διαφερόντως εὔδαιμον [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__4 sex, θῆλυ, ἄρρεν ἔ., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__5 part, member, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II of a single person, a relation, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Ps.2.1 ☩ Acts.7.45}