humanityn.
/hjʊˈmanᵻti/, /hjuːˈmanᵻti/, U.S. /hjuˈmænədi/ I. Sense relating to humane adj.
1.
a. The quality of being humane (humane adj. 1a); (now) spec. kindness, benevolence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [noun]
manshipOE
metheOE
courtesy?c1225
debonairty?c1225
gentrice?c1225
debonairshipa1240
hendlaika1250
fairnessc1275
hendiness?a1300
hendshipc1300
meeknessc1300
bonairty1303
bonairnessc1375
debonairness1382
humanityc1384
menskinga1400
hendnessc1400
comity1542
civilness1556
civility1561
courtshipa1640
discretion1752
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [noun] > humaneness
menska1250
manhead1340
humanityc1384
manlinessc1384
manhooda1425
mankind1605
humaneness1729
humanitarianism1850
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Macc. iv. 11 Bi cause of humanytee or curtasie [L. humanitatis causa].
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Titus iii. 4 Whanne the benygnyte and humanite or manhed [L. benignitas et humanitas] of oure sauyour God apperide, not of workis of riȝtwysnesse that we diden, but vp his mercy he made vs saaf by waischynge, or baptym.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 92 O noble Markys, youre humanitee Assureth vs, and yeueth vs hardynesse.
?1464 H. Berry in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 296 I beseche you schew the brynger of this letter sum humanite and worsschipe.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour ii. viii. sig. Qviv Humanitie..is a generall name to those vertues, in whome semeth to be a mutuall concorde & loue, in the nature of man.
?1545 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture sig. B.iiiv To prate in thy maysters presence, it is no humanyte.
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (xxxvii. 21) Ther is commended humanitie, for that they are redy to releeve the want of their brethren.
a1639 W. Whately Prototypes (1640) ii. xxvi. 76 The vertue of humanity, that is, of being ready to shew love to man, as he is man.
1662 J. Dauncey Eng. Lovers ii. i. 137 Mighty King, said he, show yourself at least to have somewhat of humanity, by dismissing these to their Ship.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1664 (1955) III. 376 I dined with my L: Treasurer..where his Lordship used me with singular humanitie.
1694 J. Strype Mem. Cranmer (1848) I. Pref. 31 William Petyt of the Inner-Temple..did with great humanity communicate unto me his collection of excellent papers.
1732 T. Lediard tr. J. Terrasson Life Sethos II. vii. 97 Treat the prisoners..with humanity.
1791 E. Burke Appeal New to Old Whigs 29 Great tenderness of heart, and humanity of disposition.
1794 W. Godwin Caleb Williams II. xiv. 264 The keeper..with his former unconstitutional and ambiguous humanity.
1823 C. Lamb Praise of Chimney-sweepers in Elia 251 If it be starving weather..the demand on thy humanity will surely rise to a tester.
1831 S. Smith Speeches in Wks. (1859) II. 218/1 The merciless ejector..will be restrained within the limits of decency and humanity.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xii. 224 The English laws against Popery..were so much mitigated by the prudence and humanity of the Government.
1922 G. M. Trevelyan Brit. Hist. 19th Cent. iii. 54 Evangelicalism brought rectitude, unselfishness and humanity into high places.
2005 V. Seth Two Lives (2006) i. xiii. 36 Things appeared to be unravelling in the country; all our traditions of tolerance and humanity seemed to have dissolved.
b. An act of kindness or (formerly) courtesy. Usually in plural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > [noun]
gentilessea1413
courtesya1475
humanitya1533
urbanities1630
courtship1631
civility1645
gallantry1673
complaisance1710
politeness1720
complacency1749
attention1752
customary1756
sensibility1795
personality1811
amenity1826
suavities1852
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [noun] > humaneness > instances of
humanity1758
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [noun] > act of kindness
goodOE
loveOE
estdedea1325
bounty1330
benefice1340
benefit1377
while1382
whileness1382
officec1384
excellencec1385
goodshipa1393
kindnessc1400
benevolencec1425
benignityc1534
obligement1611
obligation1618
friendlinessa1633
benevolenta1639
beneficence1654
amability1655
benefactiona1662
knight-service1675
kindliness1883
humanity1985
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1537) xlix. xi. f. 134 I meruayle not of the humanities that the humain people commytteth: but I am ashamed of the cruel sentence that our Censures do, not as Romayns, but as cruell tyrantes.
1540 J. Palsgrave in tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus Ded. sig. b I myght..dedicate some latyne auctour..to his lordeshyppe..to be a testimonye..towardes his lordeshyppe, of the manyfolde and syngular humanities shewed vnto me.
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 371/2 in Chron. I Though thou seemed as enemie..ȝit wee faund mair humanities and pleasyres than damage be thy cumming.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xx. 734/1 You heard what notable fauours and humanities, when he liued a banisht Earle in the Continent, he had receiued, first of the Duke of Britaine, then of Charles K. of France.
1658 L. Willan Orgula iv. v. 62 To your Humanities I owe my second being: may the Gods Afford success to lend me gratitude.
1758 S. Fielding Lives Cleopatra & Octavia (ed. 2) 132 Anthony's Messenger took an Opportunity to enlarge on his Master's Humanities, informing me that whilst his Soldiers were in all the Misery.., he became a Father to them.
1795 G. Butt Serm. Benefit Worcester Infirmary 15 He became altogether heavenly in his temper, principles, and conversation..; the charms of public peace meet all its humanities.
1827 T. Hood Plea Midsummer Fairies lxviii, in Plea Midsummer Fairies & Other Poems 35 So are our gentle natures intertwin'd With sweet humanities.
1832 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War III. 925 All the courtesies and humanities of generous warfare.
1852 F. W. Robertson Serm. 3rd Ser. xv. 188 Blended graces and beauties, and humanities which are found..in all churches, but not in each separate man.
1920 B. G. Jefferis & J. L. Nichols Searchlights on Health 49 You will find rare virtues, fragrant little humanities, and inspiring heroisms.
1985 J. B. Warren Conquest of Michoacán xi. 234 The odium that attached to Guzmán's name, however, would not even give him credit for this small humanity.
2. Frequently in the humanities.
a. In singular and plural. Literary learning or scholarship; secular letters as opposed to theology; esp. the study of ancient Latin and Greek language, literature, and intellectual culture (as grammar, rhetoric, history, and philosophy); classical scholarship. In later singular use, chiefly in Scottish universities: the study of Latin language and literature. Cf. humane letters n. at humane adj. Compounds, literae humaniores n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > branch of knowledge > humanistic studies > [noun]
artsc1300
liberal artsa1398
humanity1483
anthroposophy1588
humanistics1716
human science1833
society > leisure > the arts > literature > [noun] > specific types of literature > ancient Latin and Greek
humanity1483
classic1684
humanistics1716
the mind > language > languages of the world > Indo-Hittite > [noun] > Indo-European > postulated Italo-Celtic > Latin > knowledge or study of
humanity1737
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 121 a/2 He floured in double science..that is to saye dyuynyte and humanyte.
1555 R. Eden Disc. Vyages Butrigarius & Cabote in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 255 Hauynge..sum knowleage of letters of humanitie.
1577 M. Hanmer tr. Bp. Eusebius in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. vi. ii. 98 By reason of profane literature & humanitie opposite vnto sacred letters.
1591 J. Harington Briefe Apol. Poetrie in tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso sig. ¶iijv If then we may..spend some of our young yeares in studie of humanitie, what better and more meete studie is there for a young man than Poetrie?
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Ee4 There doe arise three knowledges, divine philosophy, natvral philosophy, and hvmane philosophy, or hvmanitie . View more context for this quotation
1664 T. Urquhart Life Rabelais in T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais Wks. sig. A6 His Father sent him to Angiers to study his humanities in the Convent of Bamette.
1679 M. Prance Addit. Narr. 43 He..went to Lisbone, and taught Humanity in the English Colledge there.
1737 Chamberlayne's Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 33) ii. iii. x. 440 In this University [sc. Edinburgh] are taught Divinity, Philosophy..Oratory, Humanity.
1765 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VII. vii. 26 There is the finest Seminary for the Humanities.
1778 T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry II. xvii. 410 Nicholas the fifth..established public rewards at Rome for composition in the learned languages, appointed professors in humanity.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 172 I have been bred in Paris, and learned my humanities and my cursus medendi.
1837 H. Hallam Introd. Lit. Europe I. v. 474 Lectures in humanity, that is, in classical literature, were, in 1535, established..in all colleges of the university of Oxford.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits xii. 207 An Eton captain..critically learned in all the humanities.
1869 A. Grant Addr. Students Univ. Edinb. 2 Nov. Latin, not altogether without reason called ‘Humanity’ in this University, is the greatest of all keys to the history, the thoughts, and the mind itself of civilized man.
1893 T. Fowler Hist. Corpus Christi Coll. ii. 58 The first Professor of Humanity [in C.C.C., Oxford] was Ludovicus Vivès, the celebrated Spanish humanist.
1926 H. W. Fowler Dict. Mod. Eng. Usage 240/2 The Humanities, or Litteræ humaniores,..an old-fashioned name for the study of classical literature.
1949 Obit. Notices Fellows Royal Soc. 6 540 Every candidate was obliged to attend for at least two sessions on the classes of Humanity (Latin), Greek and mathematics.
1994 Imago Mundi 46 168/1 He joined the Classics staff at the then University College of Hull before moving in 1950 to the Department of Humanity (Latin) at the University of Glasgow.
2000 E. Dezon-Jones in A. R. Larsen & C. H. Winn Writings by Pre-revolutionary French Women xii. 239 She studied the humanities by herself, during mostly stolen hours, and even learned Latin, without a grammar book or assistance.
b. In plural (usually with the). The branch of learning concerned with human culture; the academic subjects collectively comprising this branch of learning, as history, literature, ancient and modern languages, law, philosophy, art, and music. Hence also in singular: any one of these subjects.The humanities are typically distinguished from the social sciences in having a significant historical element, in the use of interpretation of texts and artefacts rather than experimental and quantitative methods, and in having an idiographic rather than nomothetic character. Cf. human science n. at human adj. and n. Compounds 1b.
ΚΠ
1855 Dwight's Jrnl. Music 7 July 109/3 For the first time, we believe, in the history of our American Universities, has there been a formal academic recognition of Music as legitimately one of ‘the humanities’.
1886 F. Pollock Oxf. Lect. (1890) iv. 108 Neither would I have you neglect the humanities. I could wish that every one of you..could enjoy in the originals Homer, and Virgil, and Dante, and Rabelais, and Goethe.
1912 Outlook 19 Oct. 353/1 We are teaching very well the laws of men and their ways—that is, sociology and the humanities.
1918 Jrnl. Geogr. Jan. 166 The problems of geography are human problems, for geography is a humanity as it is a science. It is one of the human sciences.
1966 Computers & Humanities 1 12 The reader for whom the volume is designed would do better to scan the most recent ACLS list of computerized research projects in the humanities.
1991 A. W. Levi & R. A. Smith Art Educ. iv. 62 Art history is a humanity and should be taught as such.
2003 Smithsonian May 110/2 We might also have avoided the huge and costly mistake of dividing academic life into two fire-walled regimes, the humanities and the sciences.
II. Sense relating to human adj.
3.
a. The condition, quality, or fact of being human; human faculties, attributes, or characteristics collectively; human nature.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > [noun] > quality or state of being human
mannishnesseOE
mannishlaikc1175
manhoodc1225
manheadc1230
manliheada1325
humanitya1425
human condition?1566
humanness1694
humanism1836
humanhood1847
human situation1878
humanitas1896
being-with1956
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 5655 Thanne whanne thou goste thy body fro Fre in the Eir thou shalt vp go And leuen al humanite And purely lyve in deite.
c1429 Mirour Mans Saluacioune (1986) l. 90 (MED) And thay synne more wreching crist in his deitee Then thay yt crucified hym lyving here in humanitee.
a1500 (?c1440) J. Lydgate Horse, Goose & Sheep (Lansd.) l. 308 in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 552 (MED) He [sc. Christ]..Took the meeke clothyng of our humanyte.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Biv The humanite or manhed of our lorde.
1551 S. Gardiner Explic. Catholique Fayth f. 123 In the mysterie of Christes person, there is no transition of the deitie into the humanite, or humanite into the deitie.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. ii. 34 I haue thought some of Natures Iornimen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanitie so abhominably.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 315 I would change my humanity with a Baboone. View more context for this quotation
1685 A. Behn Love Lett. between Noble-man & Sister: 2nd Pt. 154 Her face, her shape, her mien, had more of Angel in 'em than humanity!
1710 G. Berkeley Treat. Princ. Human Knowl. Introd. §9 The abstract idea of man, or, if you please, humanity, or human nature.
1773 Ld. Monboddo Orig. & Progress of Lang. (1774) I. Introd. 2 Without the use of reason and speech, we have no pretensions to humanity.
1784 T. Howes Disc. Abuse of Talent of Disput. in Relig. 13 Now for confirmation of this their opinion concerning the mere humanity of Christ.
1834 T. Wentworth West India Sketch Bk. I. 23 One of the numerous specimens of rough-spun humanity peculiar to the sea-coast.
1875 E. White Life in Christ (1878) iii. xvii. 206 A..regenerative process..which contemplates the whole humanity, body as well as soul.
1898 N.Y. Voice 5 May 6/3 They denounced slavery as a sin, asserted the humanity of the blacks.
1907 J. H. McCarthy Needles & Pins i. 8 Two human beings..are transmuted from their humanity into an angelship of intimate bliss.
1964 S. Bellow Herzog 76 Reaching at last the point of denying the humanity of the industrialized, ‘banalized’ masses.
2004 H. Kennedy Just Law (2005) xv. 314 A call that echoes beyond citizenship and appeals to standards based on our common humanity is essential.
b. In plural. Human attributes; instances of human sensibility or feeling; (also) matters that concern human beings or appeal to human sensibilities; human affairs. Now archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > [noun] > nature of man
mannisheOE
fleshc1000
mannessc1225
mankina1325
mankinda1325
naturec1390
flesh and bloodc1450
human nature1474
humankind?1504
humanities1613
homineity1660
1613 A. Sherley Relation Trav. Persia 125 So strangely doth God correct the errours and sinnes of our humanities, and taketh from the strong imagination:..the thoughts of any other causes of those inflictions.
1652 S. Stone Congregational Church iii. sig. F2 Where there is one humanity and essential forme of man, there is one essence of man, and one man: and where there are two humanities, and essentiall, proper, individuall forms of man, there are two men.
1703 J. Kelsey Serm. vi. 167 There have been those whose illustrious Vertues and great Benefactions to Mankind have justly gained the Reputation of so Divine a Temper; the Brightness whereof suffered but little Diminution by being shaded with some Humanities.
1718 J. Claggett Arianism Anatomized 89 Which Union of the Humanity with God the Son, carried infinitely more Merit with it..than if ten thousand such Gods..joined to so many real Humanities, had been sacrificed.
1800 S. T. Coleridge tr. F. Schiller Piccolomini ii. iv. 124 The fair humanities of old religion.
1837 R. Southey Doctor IV. 178 In the exercise of their calling, the distinctions of society disappear, and poor human nature is stript to its humanities.
1882 M. Arnold Irish Ess. 122 Individuals with a happy nature and an instinct for the humanities of life.
1905 J. Davidson Theatrocrat iii. 151 Purge yourself Of God, of Heaven and Hell, of soul and sin, Of small humanities, fantastic moods, Putridities of spirit, posies, myths.
1933 E. C. Batho Later Wordsworth i. 33 De Vere, with a full sense of the humanities of the occasion, wrote to tell Miss Fenwick how he had ‘brought Alfred Tennyson up the hill to pay his respects to the venerable bard’.
1972 Times 6 Jan. 2/5 It is time that deep thought was given to the humanities of the situation.
4. Human beings collectively; the human race.crime against humanity: see crime n. Phrases 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > [noun]
maneOE
worldOE
all fleshc1000
mankinOE
earthOE
little worldc1175
man's kinda1200
mankinda1225
worldrichec1275
slimec1315
kindc1325
world1340
sectc1400
humanityc1450
microcosma1475
peoplea1500
the human kindred?1533
race1553
homo1561
humankind1561
universality1561
deadly?1590
mortality1598
rational1601
vicegerent1601
small world1604
flesh and blooda1616
mannity1621
human race1623
universea1645
nations1667
public1699
the species1711
Adamhood1828
Jock Tamson's bairns1832
folx1833
Bimana1839
human1841
peeps1847
menfolk1870
manfolk1876
amniota1879
peoplekind1956
personkind1972
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine (Arun. 396) (1893) iii. l. 1062 Ȝet wil we not that thei [sc. angels] occupied shul bee With swiche-maner offyce as to humanyte longeth.
c1500 O Hie Emperice (Selden B. 24) in Middle Eng. Dict. at Humanite The sone of the hie deitee..on a croce suspendit was on hicht ffor the redemption of humanite.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 6 Vnlesse he be false, or that he bee an enemye to humanitie.
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Loves Pilgrimage v. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Cccccccc3v All humanity of a place receiv'd her, And would (if she had stayd) have help'd to right The wrong her fortune did her.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. Concl. 184 The greatest part of Humanity is lost in Earth, and their Souls so fixed in that grosser moity of themselves (their Bodies).
1721 E. Haywood Fair Captive ii. 23 So wise, so just, so excellent in all, So free from every Failing of Humanity, We scarce believe him such.
1774 T. Pennant Tour Scotl. 1772 271 Each shore appeared pleasing to humanity.
1813 R. Owen New View of Society 20 The endless and ever multiplying evils with which humanity is afflicted.
1874 G. Bancroft Footpr. of Time i. 59 Their Services to humanity are very great.
1892 B. F. Westcott Gospel of Life 109 Each nation contributes something to the fulness of the life of humanity.
1937 V. D. Scudder On Journey iii. ii. 306 Humanity could never pull itself up by its own bootstraps.
1971 Eng. Stud. 52 249 He is, in short, a soulless creature set apart from the rest of humanity by his monomaniacal devotion to pure avarice.
2004 L. Erdrich Four Souls (2005) x. 127 The old type, the old warrior type, they are gone. Only the wastrels, the dregs of humanity left, only the poor toms have survived.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
(a) In sense 2a, esp. in humanity class [after post-classical Latin classis humanitatis (c1560)] . Now chiefly Scottish.
ΚΠ
1555 Bp. S. Gardiner Will in J. G. Nichols & J. Bruce Wills Doctors' Commons (1863) 43 I bequeath to Thomas Worliche all my humanitie and lawe bookes.
1565 M. Harding in J. Jewel Def. Apol. (1611) 496 Some out of the Canonists, some out of the Schoolmen..most of all out of Humanity Bookes, wherein you be pretily seene... As for Diuinity, there appeareth no great knowledge in you.
a1688 Fulman in T. Fowler Hist. Corpus Christi Coll. (1893) 381 (note) Ludovicus Vivès lodged in C.C.C., and, by Tradition, was Humanitie Reader to the Coll.
1695 R. Sibbald Autobiogr. (1834) 129 I was a yeer at the Humanity classe.
1712 J. Anderson Answer Dialogue between Curat & Countrey-man 45 Every Boy in the Humanity Class can tell you, that among Heathens, Anointing in Feasts was almost as usuall as Eating.
1762 New & Gen. Biogr. Dict. X. 117 He [sc. John Ray] was chosen..humanity reader.
1800 Acts Gen. Ass. Church of Scotl. 30 Humanity or Latin, with the Elements of Greek, in the first Humanity and Greek Classes.
1862 A. Dalzel Hist. Edinb. Univ. II. 361 The Town-Council..received and admitted Mr. John Cruickshanks to be Master of the Humanity class.
1932 K. E. Trail Reminisc. Old Aberdeen ix. 87 The Humanity Manse, which he rented from the Professor of Latin.
1937 Aberdeen Univ. Cal. 169 The Graduation Humanity Class must be attended by all who desire to take the M.A. Degree in Latin.
2001 C. W. J. Withers Geogr., Sci. & National Identity iv. 140 Thomas Gordon. the Humanity Professor. taught ‘the Geography of the Antients’ as part of his classics lectures in 1761.
(b) (In sense 2b.)
ΚΠ
1930 Eng. Jrnl. 19 578 (heading) The humanities course.
1941 Jrnl. Higher Educ. 12 390/1 One of the objectives of the Humanities Department..is to develop in students the desire to listen to good music.
1987 C. P. Christ Laughter of Aphrodite (1988) Introd. 12 I was teaching in the humanities program at Columbia University where we read the ‘great books’ of Western culture.
2005 Z. Smith On Beauty 57 We've got six new lecturers across the Humanities Faculty.
b. In sense 1a. Cf. humanity-monger n. at Compounds 2. Usually depreciative.† humanity-man n. Obsolete† humanity scheme n. Obsolete
ΚΠ
1825 W. Cobbett Jrnl. 31 Oct. in Rural Rides (1830) 297 Colonel Wodehouse..who opposed this humanity-scheme,..took special care not to tell the humanity-men to look at home for slaves to free.
1825 W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 12 Nov. 399 To tell the humanity-men to look at home for slaves to free.
ΚΠ
1825 W. Cobbett Jrnl. 31 Oct. in Rural Rides (1830) 297 Colonel Wodehouse..who opposed this humanity-scheme,..took special care not to tell the humanity-men to look at home for slaves to free.
1825 J. Bentham Observ. Mr. Peel's Speech 49 By this his liberating scheme, who knows how many supporters he may not have brought over for his humanity scheme? How profound soever their contempt for their betters.
C2.
humanity-monger n. depreciative (now historical) = humanitarian n. 3.Chiefly with reference to those promoting reform in the treatment of criminals and the poor.
ΚΠ
1829 R. Southey Sir Thomas More I. 109 The humanity-mongers, who deny the necessity and lawfulness of inflicting capital punishment.
1851 Househ. Words 8 Mar. 554/1 Whosoever says that putrid animal substances are ill for a green wound, or for robust vigour, or for anything or for anybody, is a humanity-monger and a humbug.
1869 J. Payn in Chambers's Jrnl. July 430/2 I am no humanity-monger, as you well know, but I think we should look with charity upon such cases.
2006 R. Hewitt Symbolic Interactions ii. 55 We might see humanity-mongers as sympathy brokers who helped middle- and upper-class people discard stereotypes about lawbreakers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.c1384