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Origin and history of humane

humane(adj.)

mid-15c., a parallel variant of human (adj.), with a form and stress that perhaps suggest a stronger association with Latin humanus than with Old French humain. Human and humane were used interchangeably in the senses "pertaining to a human being" and "having qualities befitting human beings" (c. 1500). The latter at first meant "courteous, friendly, civil, obliging," then "marked by tenderness, compassion, and a disposition to kindly treat others" (c. 1600). By early 18c. the words had differentiated in spelling and accent and humane took the "kind" sense.

Compare germane, urbane. Meaning "inflicting less pain than something else" is from 1904. Inhuman is its natural opposite. The Royal Humane Society (founded 1774) was originally to rescue drowning persons; such societies had turned to animal care by late 19c.

also from mid-15c.

Entries linking to humane

germane(adj.)

mid-14c., "having the same parents," a doublet of german (adj.) but directly from Latin germanus instead of via French (compare urbane/urban). Main modern sense of "closely connected, relevant" (c. 1600) derives from use in "Hamlet" Act V, Scene ii: "The phrase would bee more Germaine to the matter: If we could carry Cannon by our sides," which is a figurative use of the word in the now-obsolete loosened sense of "closely related, akin" (late 15c.) in reference to things, not persons.

human(adj.)

mid-15c., humain, humaigne, "human," from Old French humain, umain (adj.) "of or belonging to man" (12c.), from Latin humanus "of man, human," also "humane, philanthropic, kind, gentle, polite; learned, refined, civilized." This is in part from PIE *(dh)ghomon-, literally "earthling, earthly being," as opposed to the gods (from root *dhghem- "earth"), but there is no settled explanation of the sound changes involved. Compare Hebrew adam "man," from adamah "ground." Cognate with Old Lithuanian žmuo (accusative žmuni) "man, male person."

Human interest is from 1779. Human rights is attested by 1650s; human being by 1670s.

"Curst with hereditary love of pelf,

"I hate all human beings but myself ;

"Cross and perplex my wife, because she prov'd,

"Poor girl !—not rich enough to be belov'd."

["The Diaboliad, A Poem Dedicated to the Worst Man in His Majesty's Dominions," 1677]

Human comedy "sum of human activities" translates French comédie humaine (Balzac); see comedy. Human relations is from 1640s as "interaction and connection among persons;" by 1916 as a department in a modern corporation; the phrase had been used from about 1912 in discussions of modern industry.

More than ever, perhaps, the successful manager must be a close student of men and their psychological processes. With the steady rise in intelligence, the increasing complexity of personal relations and the growing tendency of the public to interest themselves in industrial matters, the human element in factory management looms up with increasing importance; and no system of management can be successful that does not take this factor into account. [Dexter S. Kimball, "Principles of Industrial Organization," N.Y., 1913]

Human resources is attested by 1907, American English, apparently originally among social Christians and based on natural resources. As a personnel management department in a government or corporation by 1977.