humanize
To make human; to give or cause to have the fundamental properties of a human.
Verb
- To make human; to give or cause to have the fundamental properties of a human.
- VVas it the buſineſs of magic to humanize our natures with compaſſion, forgiveneſs, and all the inſtances of the moſt extenſive charity? - a. 1720 (date written), Joseph Addison, “Section II. The Power and Wisdom of God...
- A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed. ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with...
- To make sympathetic or relatable.
- I think they would try to humanize the worst villains in history out of their fear that the audience might not like the central character. - 2000, Robert J. Emery, The directors: in their own words, volume 2, page 267:
- The Oscar-winning film The Iron Lady humanised Thatcher. - 2012 January 9, “Margaret Thatcher: Let's hear it for the Iron Lady, comedy's greatest straight man”, in The Independent:
- Like the three ceremonial functions based on the Constitutions, these informal chief of state activities emphasize the president's role as the leader of the nation, but many of them also serve to humanize the president...
- To convert into something human or belonging to humans.
- to humanize vaccine lymph
- humanized monoclonal antibodies
Origin
Etymology tree Latin hūmānus Old French umain Middle French humainbor. Middle English humayne English human Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English humanize From human + -ize.
Forms
Antonyms
Derived
humanizable humanization humanizer overhumanize rehumanize unhumanize
Verb Entry 2
- To make humane.
- In China, as in India, Buddhism humanized the government and the people. It was a Chinese Emperor, Ming-Ti (a.d. 58-76), converted to Buddhism that abolished the penalty of death. - 1932, Mariadas Ruthnaswamy, The...
- And consequently he humanized the company. He instituted excellent employee benefits. - 1974, Al Parsons, Lightning in the Sun: A History of Florida Power Corporation, 1899-1974, page 154:
- Some leftists believed that Cardenas humanized the government and harmonized its workings with the needs of the common people at the same time that peasant and worker activists placed demands on the political system. -...
- To become humane or civilized.
Origin
Etymology tree English humane Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English humanize From humane + -ize.