humanize Meaning, Definition & Usage

Hu"man*ize transitive verb

Etymology

Cf. F. humaniser.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Humanized ; present participle & verbal noun Humanizing

Definitions

1. To render human or humane; to soften; to make gentle by overcoming cruel dispositions and rude habits; to refine or civilize.

   Was it the business of magic to humanize our natures with compassion? Addison.

2. To give a human character or expression to. "Humanized divinities." Caird.
3. (Med.) To convert into something human or belonging to man; as, to humanize vaccine lymph.

Hu"man*ize intransitive verb

Definitions

1. To become or be made more humane; to become civilized; to be ameliorated.

   By the original law of nations, war and extirpation were the punishment of injury. Humanizing by degrees, it admitted slavery instead of death; a further step was the exchange of prisoners instead of slavery. Franklin.