humane — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Having or showing concern for the pain or suffering of another; compassionate.

   Examples

   It is no longer considered humane to perform vivisection on research animals.

   As methods of execution go, beheading is more humane than drawing and quartering.

   More examples (1)

   The unfortunate thing about Bando, said Arthur, is that it is no longer to be obtained in this unfortunate country. I understand that inferior products, such as Ostreine and Spanish Flies, may still be wheedled out of some of the humaner chemists, up and down the city, in the ten minutes or a quarter of an hour immediately following their midday meal.

2. Pertaining to branches of learning concerned with human affairs or the humanities, especially classical literature or rhetoric.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   many divine precepts to counterpoise our hearts, special antidotes both in scriptures and humane authors, which who so will observe, shall purchase much ease and quietness unto himself.

Adjective

1. pertaining to or concerned with the humanities

   Synonyms

   humanisthumanistic

   Examples

   humanistic studies

   a humane education

2. marked or motivated by concern with the alleviation of suffering

   Antonyms

   inhumane

3. showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement