humanity

noun

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English humanyte, humanite, humanitye, from Old French humanité, from Latin hūmānitās. By surface analysis, human or humane + -ity. Partly displaced mankind, from Old English mancynn (literally “human race”).

1. Humankind; human beings as a group.

   “Then he commenced to talk, really talk. and inside of two flaps of a herring's fin he had me mesmerized, like Eben Holt's boy at the town hall show. He talked about the ills of humanity, and the glories of health and Nature and service and land knows what all.”

   “At last the concourse is relatively clear of humanity and the task of clearing up can begin.”

2. The human condition or nature.
3. The quality of being benevolent; humane traits of character; humane qualities or aspects.

   “Think of that; by that sweet girl that old man had a child: hold ye then there can be any utter, hopeless harm in Ahab? No, no, my lad; stricken, blasted, if he be, Ahab has his humanities!”

   “Killing Animals Humanely. Humanity requires that animals be killed in the quickest and least painful manner. The following circular has been sent by our American Humane Education Society very widely through the country.”

4. Any academic subject belonging to the humanities.

   “Philosophy is a humanity while psychology is a science.”