| 释义 |
inhuman, a. (n.)|ɪnˈhjuːmən|
Forms: 5 inhumayn, 6–7 inhumane, -aine, 7– inhuman.
[ad. L. inhūmān-us, f. in- (in-3) + hūmānus human. In earliest examples app. after F. inhumain, -aine (15th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).
The stress was originally, as in F., on the final syllable, but by the close of the 16th c. metrical evidence shows the distinction of inˈhuman and inhuˈmane in verse, though without apparent distinction of meaning. The prose pronunciation was then probably inˈhuman, but the spelling inhumane was almost invariable till after 1700 (cf. human, humane). After the spelling inhuman came in, the spelling and pronunciation inhuˈmane became app. very rare. Bailey (after 1730), Johnson, and other 18th c. dictionaries which distinguish ˈhuman and huˈmane in pronunciation and sense, recognize for the negative only inˈhuman, and Todd 1818 appears not to have known inhuˈmane, for he says ‘There is now no distinction observed between inhuman and inhumane: formerly it was inhumane with the accent on the last syllable’. Ash 1775 distinguishes ‘Inhu′man, barbarous, cruel, void of compassion’, and ‘Inhuma′ne, void of tenderness, unkind (But not much used)’. The second entry may refer only to the 17th c. word. None of the 19th c. dictionaries, until quite recently, record inhumane (exc. as an obsolete form of inhuman). It may therefore be concluded that inhumane in current use has been formed afresh on humane, in order to provide an exact negative to the latter, and thus a word of milder meaning than inhuman. (In treating the two words, we place under inhuman all quots. bef. 1600 however spelt, all 17th c. metrical quots. which show the stress on ˈhu, and all 17th c. or later examples spelt inhuman.)]
1. Of persons: Not having the qualities proper or natural to a human being; esp. destitute of natural kindness or pity; brutal, unfeeling, cruel. Also fig. of things.
1481Caxton Godefroy ccvii. 303 That Inhumayn baylly, whiche was ful of cruelte and of pryde, louyd not the Cristen men. 1548W. Patten Exped. Scotl. Pref. b v b, Ye woold neuer shew your selues inhumaine and ingrate towardes hym. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. v. ii. 178 Her spotlesse Chastity, Inhumaine Traytors, you constrain'd and for'st. 1613–16W. Browne Brit. Past. ii. i. B iij, What wretch inhumane? or what wilder blood..Could leaue her so disconsolate? 1697Dryden Virg. Past. viii. 67 Love lent the Sword; the Mother struck the Blow; Inhuman she; but more inhuman thou. ― Georg. ii. 788 E'er sounding Hammers forg'd th' inhumane Sword. 1725Pope Odyss. vii. 247 We impart To you, the thoughts of no inhuman heart. 1755Man ii. 4 Those who unman themselves, by debasing their nature..we shall call by the name of inhuman. 1868Morn. Star 25 Feb., The inhuman mother has been taken into custody.
b. Of actions, conduct, etc.: Brutal, savage, barbarous, cruel.
c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon i. 45 To this inhumayn occysion was come themperoure Charlemayn. 1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 90 b, His poore subjectes came with lamentacions and cryes shewyng his grace of the crueltie of the Frenchemen and of their inhumaine dealyng with them. 1613Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 844 Loathing this inhumane feasting with humane flesh. 1641in Clarendon Hist. Reb. iv. §105 The most Barbarous and Inhumane Cruelties. 1739Throp Let. to Swift 10 Dec., S.'s Lett. 1768 IV. 233 The cruel and inhuman behaviour of that monster. 1840Thirlwall Greece VII. 301 Apollonides..set fire to the building: the Five Hundred perished in the flames..The conduct of Apollonides seems to us inhuman. 1884Pae Eustace 57 Recall the inhuman words, and let us forget that they were uttered.
2. Not pertaining to or in accordance with what is human, in form, nature, intelligence, etc.; not of the ordinary human type.
1568Tilney Disc. Mariage A vij b, What thing is more inhumane, than for man to contemne that as profane which the eternall hath halowed? 1613Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 900 Of Seales and Sea-monsters, or other more unnaturall and monstrous inhumane shape. 1667Milton P.L. xi. 511 Can thus Th' Image of God in man..To such unsightly sufferings be debas't Under inhuman pains? 1838D. Jerrold Men of Char., J. Applejohn xvii, The human and inhuman wonders painted thrice the size of life. 1862W. W. Story Roba di R. vii. (1864) 131 There is a great deal of human nature in mankind, wherever you go,—except in Paris, perhaps, where Nature is rather inhuman and artificial.
†B. as n. A brutal person. Obs. rare.
1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. x. 30, I had been six and thirty days thus abandoned by these Inhumanes. 1709Mrs. Manley Secr. Mem. (1736) IV. 158 If your Highness will not rank yourself on the side of those Inhumans. 1755Man xvi. 5 We..will treat all their despisers as inhumans. |