Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HU'MAN, a. [L. humanus; Fr. humain; Sp. humano; It. umano. I am not certain which are the radical letters of this word, but am inclined to believe them to be Mn; that the first syllable is a prefix; that homo in Latin is contracted, the n being dropped in the nominative, and restored in the oblique cases; hence homo, and the Gothic and Sax. guma, a man, may be the same word, but this is doubtful. If Mn are the elements, this word is from the root of man, or rather is formed on the Teutonic word. Heb. מין form, species. The corresponding word in G. is menschlich, (man-like,) D. menschelyk. See Man.]

1. Belonging to man or mankind; pertaining or relating to the race of man; as, a human voice; human shape; human nature; human knowledge; human life.
2. Having the qualities of a man. Swift.
3. Profane; not sacred or divine; as, a human author. [Not in use.] Brown.