Human

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈhjuː.mən/

Definitions

1. A living being that belongs to the species known for advanced cognitive abilities and upright walking
2. An organism characterized by complex brain function, social behavior, and the use of language
3. A bipedal primate distinguished by intelligence, culture, and the capacity to create society

Etymology: Latin "hūmānus" meant "of man" or "human," and it reached English through Old French "umain" and Middle French "humain," arriving in Middle English as "humayne" in the late medieval period. The word's Latin roots are "homo" and possibly the same ancient root that gives English "man," though the connection remains uncertain. English long spelled the word variously, but "human" became the dominant form only in the early 18th century. The shape of the word hides a surprising twist. Its close relative "humane," from the same Latin source, drifted in English toward meaning "kind" or "compassionate," while "human" kept the plainer sense of belonging to the species. The two words split apart over the centuries, so one describes what we are and the other describes how we ought to treat one another.

Synonyms: person, individual, homo sapien, mortal, soul

Antonyms: animal, machine, robot, nonhuman, alien