Etymology Map
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Humane

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means compassionate

Where does the word "humane" come from? It comes from Latin humanus, adopted directly into English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
humanus
Latin · ancient
"human, kind"
a variant spelling of 'human'
2
Stage 2 of 2
humane
English · 1500s
"human"
the spelling split, and 'humane' took the sense 'kind' by the 1700s
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Humane’s story begins in Latin: humanus meant “human, kind.” A variant spelling of 'human'. It reached English by 1500s as humane. The spelling split, and 'humane' took the sense 'kind' by the 1700s. Today, humane means compassionate.