Etimology
From Late Middle English humayne, humain, from Middle French humain, from Old French humain, umain, from Latin hūmānus m (“of or belonging to a man, human, humane”, adjective), from homo, with unclear ū. Spelling human has been predominant since the early 18th century.
adjective
human (comparative more human, superlative most human)
(not comparable) Of or belonging to the species Homo sapiens or its closest relatives.
(comparable) Having the nature or attributes of a human being.
Examples
Some powers diuine, or els infernall, mixt / Their angry ſeedes at his conception: / For he was neuer ſprong of humaine race, / Since with the ſpirit of his fearefull pride, / He dares so doubtleſly reſolue of rule.
[N]o attempt is made to call in God to their reſcue, as if he vvere an idle unconcern'd ſpectator of humane affairs, or ſo inconſiderable an ally, as not to be vvorth the care of engaging him on their ſide.
Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.
To err is human; to forgive, divine.
She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry.
The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad.
Google wouldn't be human if it didn't want some of this loot, which buying Motorola would enable it to grab.
Related words
synonyms
mannish, mennish (now rare)
antonyms
inhuman
nonhuman
unhuman
hypernyms
animalian (in its sense including all Animalia)
mammalian
related terms
humane
humanitarian
humanitarianism
humanity
noun
human (plural humans)
(strictly, biology) The tallest, most abundant and most intelligent of primates; Homo sapiens.
(broadly) Any hominid of the genus Homo.
Examples
Synonyms: human being, man; see also Thesaurus:person
Humans share common ancestors with other apes.
Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola.
If I ever have to choose between a future where killer robots hunt humans or a future where bacon supplies have run out ... Let's just say you better start running.
Greetings. I am Blor-Utar from Zimtok-5. I have come to subjugate the human race. Do not resist. Why humans? Because, in addition to their value as slave labor, they are also delicious and nutritious!
Greetings, human! You have stumbled into the dimension of the Snow People. […] Flesh plows clear the streets to make them safe to drive. […] Does this shock you, human? Do the ways of our world open your eyes to the truths of your own?
verb
human (third-person singular simple present humans, present participle humaning or humanning, simple past and past participle humaned or humanned)
(rare) To behave as or become, or to cause to behave as or become, a human.
Examples
[…] he sought to charm a single pair of ears, and those more hairy than critical. Later, as the race went on humaning, there grew complexity of sentiment and varying emotional needs, […]
There are, then, many ways of humaning: these are the ways along which we make ourselves and, collaboratively, one another.