Etymograph

English

humane

Humane comes from Latin hūmānus ‘human’.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEhūmānus1‘human’
  2. Old Frenchc. 842–1400humain1
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500humain1
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1624humane1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English humane
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1624, Democritus Junior pseudonym; Robert Burt, The Anatomy of Melancholy: […]: “many divine precepts to counterpoise our hearts, special antidotes…”.

Earlier history uncertain. See Wiktionary.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEhūmānusWiktionary, English humane‘human’
  2. Old Frenchc. 842–1400humainWiktionary, English humane
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500humainWiktionary, English humane
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1624humaneWiktionary, English humane. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1624, Democritus Junior pseudonym; Robert Burt, The Anatomy of Melancholy: […]: “many divine precepts to counterpoise our hearts, special antidotes…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰmṓ ‘human’

goon, 16 more

through Latin hemō

homophobia, 11 more

through Latin homō ‘man’

homo, homage, hombre, ombre, omi, homunculus, hominin, inhumanity, 11 more

through Latin hūmānus ‘human’

inhuman, 7 more

Today it means

adj Having or showing concern for the pain or suffering of another; compassionate.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “humane”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Latin hūmānus / humane

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