humane
UK /hjuːˈmeɪn/ · US /hjuˈmeɪn/ adjective
Also a form of human
Forms humaner humanest
- adjective Having or showing concern for the pain or suffering of another; compassionate. “It is no longer considered humane to perform vivisection on research animals.”
- adjective Pertaining to branches of learning concerned with human affairs or the humanities, especially classical literature or rhetoric.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English humain, humayne, from Old French humain, umain, from Latin hūmānus, from Latin homō (“man”). Cognate with Old English guma (“man”), whence the groom in English bridegroom.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Pertaining to man; human. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
- adjective Having the feelings and inclinations creditable to man; having a disposition to treat other human beings or animals with kindness; kind; benevolent.
Etymology [L. humanus: cf. F. humain. See Human.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “humane”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details