humain
/y.mɛ̃/
adjective
Origin
Latin
hūmānus — human, kind, cultured
Overview
Meaning Now
- Relating to or characteristic of mankind or human beings.
- Showing compassion, benevolence, or kindness.
Literal older meaning
of or belonging to man
Language path
Latin → Old French → French
Earliest form
humain
Earliest period
12th century
Journey
The word stems from the Latin 'hūmānus', which conceptually linked the state of being human with the cultivation of 'humanitas' (refinement, philanthropy). In the medieval period, it was often used in religious and chivalric literature to distinguish earthly, fallible human nature from the divine.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
hūmānus
“human; civilized”
- Old French
humain
“human; kind”
Initially denoted both the biological state and the moral quality.
Connections
Word parts
hum-
root
earth/man (related to humus)
-ain
suffix
adjectival suffix
Related across languages
English
human
human
Spanish
humano
human
Italian
umano
human
Explore next
Related to humain
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.