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humane

 - 3 dictionary results

hu⋅mane

  [hyoo-meyn or, often, yoo-]
Use humane in a Sentence
–adjective
1. characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals, esp. for the suffering or distressed: humane treatment of horses.
2. of or pertaining to humanistic studies.
Origin:
orig. stress var. of human, restricted to above senses from 18th century; cf. germane, german

Related forms:
hu⋅mane⋅ly, adverb
hu⋅mane⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. merciful, kind, kindly, kindhearted, tender, compassionate, gentle, sympathetic; benevolent, benignant, charitable. See human.

Antonyms:
1. brutal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To humane
hu·mane   (hyōō-mān')   
adj.  

  1. Characterized by kindness, mercy, or compassion: a humane judge.

  2. Marked by an emphasis on humanistic values and concerns: a humane education.


[Middle English humain, human; see human.]
hu·mane'ly adv., hu·mane'ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean marked or motivated by concern with the alleviation of suffering: a humane physician; compassionate toward impoverished people; released the prisoner for humanitarian reasons; is merciful to the repentant.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

humane 
c.1450, variant of human, used interchangeably with it until early 18c., when it began to be a distinct word with sense of "having qualities befitting human beings." But inhuman still can be the opposite of humane. The Royal Humane Society (founded 1774) was originally to rescue drowning persons.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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