human

Etymology

From Late Middle English humayne, humain, from Middle French humain, from Old French humain, umain, from Latin hūmānus m (“of or belonging to a man, human, humane”, adjective), from homo, with unclear ū. Spelling human has been predominant since the early 18th century.

adj

1. (not comparable) Of or belonging to the species Homo sapiens or its closest relatives.
   Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth. 2013-06-07, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36
2. (comparable) Having the nature or attributes of a human being.
   To err is human; to forgive, divine.
   She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest
   2011 August 17, Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., The Many Wars of Google: Handset makers will learn to live with their new ‘frenemy’, Business World, Wall Street Journal, Google wouldn't be human if it didn't want some of this loot, which buying Motorola would enable it to grab.

noun

1. (strictly) The tallest, most abundant and most intelligent of primates; Homo sapiens.
   Humans share common ancestors with other apes.
   Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. 2013 May-June, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 193
2. (broadly) Any hominid of the genus Homo.

verb

1. (rare) To behave as or become, or to cause to behave as or become, a human.
   […] he sought to charm a single pair of ears, and those more hairy than critical. Later, as the race went on humaning, there grew complexity of sentiment and varying emotional needs, […] 1911, Ambrose Bierce, “Music”, in The collected works of Ambrose Bierce, volume 9, page 362
   There are, then, many ways of humaning: these are the ways along which we make ourselves and, collaboratively, one another. 2013, Biosocial Becomings, page 19