— humanely , adv. — humaneness , n.
/hyooh mayn"/ or, often, /yooh-/ , adj.
1. characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals, esp. for the suffering or distressed: humane treatment of horses.
2. of or pertaining to humanistic studies.
[ orig. stress var. of HUMAN, restricted to above senses from 18th century; cf. GERMANE, GERMAN ]
Syn. 1. merciful, kind, kindly, kindhearted, tender, compassionate, gentle, sympathetic; benevolent, benignant, charitable. See human .
Ant. 1. brutal.