Dictionary

humane en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /hjuːˈmeɪn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /hjʉːˈmæɪn/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /hjuˈmeɪn/ (Canada, General-American)
• (US) audio

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.

Meanings

1. Having or showing concern for the pain or suffering of another; compassionate.
   • As methods of execution go, beheading is more humane than drawing and quartering.
   • It is no longer considered humane to perform vivisection on research animals.
   • 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. (alt-of, obsolete) Obsolete spelling of human.
   alt 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:

Forms

Antonyms

nonhumane · inhuman · inhumane

Deriveds

humanewashing · humanize · humaniac · humaneness · humanewash · humanely · humane society

Relateds

human · humanitarian · humanity · humanist

Synonyms

mankindly

Translations (97)

sq i njeridashës (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sh ху̏ма̄н (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sk ľudský (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · fr humain (pertaining to branches of learning concerned with human affairs or the [[humanities]]) · ru гума́нный (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · pl humanitarny (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · mk човечки (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · pl humanitarny (pertaining to branches of learning concerned with human affairs or the [[humanities]]) · et inimlik (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · kk адамгершілікті (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ca humà (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · tr insancıl (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ru челове́чный (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sh љу̀дскӣ (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sh чо̏вјечан (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · lt žmogiškas (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · mk човечен (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sl človečen (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · uk гуманіта́рний (pertaining to branches of learning concerned with human affairs or the [[humanities]]) · nl humaan (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · gd truacanta (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sv human (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ru челове́ческий (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · cs lidský (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · nl menselijk (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · uk гума́нний (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · eo humana (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · bg чове́чен (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ka ჰუმანური (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ga daonnachtúil (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · lt humaniškas (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sk humánny (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ru гуманита́рный (pertaining to branches of learning concerned with human affairs or the [[humanities]]) · bg хуманита́рен (pertaining to branches of learning concerned with human affairs or the [[humanities]]) · ky адамгерчиликтүү (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · he אֱנוֹשִׁי (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · cmn 有人情 (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · xal аврңһу (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ko 인도적 (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · hy մարդկային (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · eo homama (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ky кишиликтүү (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · cmn 人道的 (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sh ljùdskī (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ang mennisċlīċ (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sl človeški (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · tk adamkärçilikli (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · kmr însanî (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sh чо̏вечан (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ga Críostúil (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · lv humāns (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · uz insoniy (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · de human (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · da menneskelig (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · is mannúðlegur (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · hu emberséges (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · be гума́нны (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · tg инсонӣ (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ro uman (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · it umano (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · be гуманіта́рны (pertaining to branches of learning concerned with human affairs or the [[humanities]]) · az insanpərvər (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · fr humain (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · de menschlich (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · hi मानवोचित (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · fa انسانی (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · yi מענטשלעך (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ps انساني (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · nb menneskelig (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · cs humánní (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · az insani (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · fi inhimillinen (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · uk лю́дяний (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · hu humánus (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · pl ludzki (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · tl makatao (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ja 人道的 (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · da human (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · lv cilvēcīgs (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · mi ngākau aroha (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · pt humano (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · es humano (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · mk хуман (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ar إِنْسَانِيّ (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sh čȍvječan (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sv mänsklig (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sl human (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · uz insonparvar (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · uk лю́дський (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · nb human (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ga daonna (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sh čȍvečan (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · sh hȕmān (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ky адамчыл (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · bg хума́нен (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · ro omenos (with regard for the health and well-being of another) · be чалаве́чны (with regard for the health and well-being of another)