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 from in- +‎ 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.

   • 2024 November 6, David Culver, Abel Alvarado, Evelio Contreras and Rachel Clarke, “Exclusive: Locking eyes with mass murderers in El Salvador”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     But the ruthless cleaning up of those streets and merciless treatment of gang members have triggered outrage and concern among human rights organizations, which have condemned Cecot as inhumane and unacceptable.

Synonyms

• nonhumane

Antonyms

• humane

Derived terms

• inhumanely
• inhumaneness

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.