humanity English · revision 6008

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1382|origins=la humanitas}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /hjuːˈmæn.ə.ti/, US /hjuːˈmæn.ə.t̬i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English humanite, [[bor|fro|humanité|t=human nature; humankind; pity]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|hūmānitās|t=human nature, the human race; kindness, refinement]] (accusative hūmānitātem),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|hūmānus|t=human, humane]] (see [[human]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Kindness, courtesy, consideration for others: 1382 in the OED, about 1384 in the Wycliffe Bible in Barnhart, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Human nature, the quality of being human, is from about 1400, about 1430 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The human race is from about 1450 in Barnhart and the mid-15th century in Etymonline, 1579 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Compassion for people and animals is from about 1386.^(OED 1989) The humanities are the study of literature, philosophy, history and languages, as opposed to the sciences,^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) and in Scotland humanity long meant the Latin language and classics, as in a professor of humanity.^(Wright 1898) ''Humanitarian'' meant one who affirms Christ's human nature in 1819 and a philanthropist from 1844, at first disparagingly.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1382 – kindness, courtesy.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1430 – human nature.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1450 – the human race.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1819 – ''humanitarian''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Human beings as a whole; the human race.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The quality of being human.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Kindness and [[compassion]]; humaneness.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(the humanities)'' The study of [[literature]], philosophy, history and languages, as opposed to the sciences.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[antihumanity]]

+ * [[inhumanity]]

+ * [[humanitarian]]

+ * [[humanitarianism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[humane]]

+ * [[human]]

+ * [[humanism]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}