inhumane

See also: inhuman

English

Etymology

Originally a variant spelling and pronunciation of inhuman, ultimately from Latin inhūmānus; it appears to have died out 17c. but returned c. 1822, probably a reformation as a negative of humane.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɪnhjuːˈmeɪn/
• Rhymes: -eɪn

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

inhumane (comparative more inhumane, superlative most inhumane)

1. Alternative form of inhuman: lacking pity or compassion for misery and suffering; cruel, unkind.
   • 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], Act I:

     Herein thou haſt done good ſeruice to thy country:
     VVere all inhumaine ſlaues ſo ſerued as he,
     England would be ciuill, and from all ſuch dealings free.

Synonyms

• nonhumane

Antonyms

• humane

Translations

cruel and savage, not humane — see inhuman

German

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

inhumane

1. inflection of inhuman:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Latin

Adjective

inhūmāne

1. vocative masculine singular of inhūmānus

References

• “inhumane”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “inhumane”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• inhumane in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.