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Where does the word "humane" come from? It comes from Latin humanus, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
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Where does the word "humane" come from? It comes from Latin humanus, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
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.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient humanus "human, kind", a variant spelling of 'human'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1500s humane "human", the spelling split, and 'humane' took the sense 'kind' by the 1700s.