humane
adjUK /hjuːˈmeɪn/ · CA, US /hjuˈmeɪn/
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.
1
Having or showing concern for the pain or suffering of another; compassionate.
- It is no longer considered humane to perform vivisection on research animals.
- As methods of execution go, beheading is more humane than drawing and quartering.
1 more example
- The unfortunate thing about Bando, said Arthur, is that it is no longer to be obtained in this unfortunate country. I understand that inferior products, such as Ostreine and Spanish Flies, may still be wheedled out of some of the humaner chemists, up and down the city, in the ten minutes or a quarter of an hour immediately following their midday meal.1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:
2
Pertaining to branches of learning concerned with human affairs or the humanities, especially classical literature or rhetoric.
- many divine precepts to counterpoise our hearts, special antidotes both in scriptures and humane authors, which who so will observe, shall purchase much ease and quietness unto himself.1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 7:
3
Obsolete Obsolete spelling of human.
- [N]o attempt is made to call in God to their reſcue, as if he vvere an idle unconcern'd ſpectator of humane affairs, or ſo inconſiderable an ally, as not to be vvorth the care of engaging him on their ſide.1660, [Richard Allestree], “Sect[ion] V. Of the Second Advantage, Wealth.”, in The Gentlemans Calling, London: […] T[imothy] Garthwait […], →OCLC, page 83:
- Synonyms
- mankindly
- Derived terms
- humanely, humaneness, humane society, humanewash, humanewashing, humaniac, humanize
- Related terms
- human, humanist, humanitarian, humanity