Etymologically
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humanus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [huːˈmaː.nʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [uˈmaː.nus][1]

Forms

hūmānus (feminine hūmāna, neuter hūmānum, comparative hūmānior, superlative hūmānissimus, adverb hūmānē or hūmāniter); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is related to homō “human being”, though the exact formation is unclear.[2][1][3] Homō goes back to Proto-Indo-European *dʰǵʰm-ōn (“earthling”), from the word for earth, and Wiktionary suggests hūmānus may come from a form *hūm- “earth”, as in humus, with the suffix -ānus.[4][1][5] Festus reports an old form hemōna.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Ennius.[6] The OLD also cites Plautus, whose prologue speaks of a god born of a human mother.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC and Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant human, of or belonging to people, and as a neuter plural hūmāna human affairs; it was opposed to divine, as Cicero's plan given not by human counsel but almost divinely.[2] It described the conditions and behaviour proper to human beings, as Plautus' saying that to love is human and to forgive is human too.[2] It also meant civilized, refined, and morally worthy of humanity, kindly, considerate, as Plautus' man of humane character.[2][5]

In Medieval Latin it meant human as opposed to animal, divine or diabolical, and in Poland also generous, hospitable or educated.[7][8] English human came through Old French humain in the mid-15th century, and English humane is a variant of the same word.[5]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.[6]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a human mother and human forgiveness.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero opposes human to divine counsel.[2][6]
  • mid-15th century – English human is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Human, (neuter plural) human affairs.[2]
  2. Human (as opposed to divine).[2]
  3. Proper to human beings.[2]
  4. Civilized, refined.[2]
  5. Kindly, humane, considerate.[2]

Word family

  • hūmānitās
  • hūmānitus
  • inhūmānus
  • perhūmānus
  • hūmānē
  • hūmāniter
  • hūmānō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  8. ^ Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl