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humane

Diction
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An older spelling of 'human.' In early modern poetry it can look unfamiliar even though the meaning is simple.

Detailed Definition
In older English, humane could be used in the sense of 'human' or 'of people,' not only 'kind.' Aphra Behn’s spelling here is typical of seventeenth-century print and may slow modern readers because it looks like the modern adjective meaning compassionate. In context, it means the grove is hidden from human eyes.
Example
Example in poetry:
“The place secur’d from humane Eyes” uses humane in an older sense meaning human, not compassionate; “No humane foot disturbed the snow” likewise means no human foot; “The humane world receded behind the mountain pass” shows archaic diction in landscape poetry; “Students should distinguish this historical sense from modern humane, meaning compassionate or kind”
Additional Notes
The word "humane" in "secur’d from humane Eyes" is an older spelling and usage that modern readers may not immediately recognize.; Found in the poem, The Willing Mistriss by Aphra Behn
Also Known As
compassionate kind-hearted benevolent gentle
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