humanitarian
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /hjʊˌmæ.nɪˈtɛː.ɹɪ.ən/
ipa: [-ɛə.ɹi.ən]
ipa: /hjuˌmæ.nəˈtɛ.ɹi.ən/
ipa: /ˌhjuː.mæ.nɪˈtɛː.ɹɪ.ən/
rhymes: -ɛəɹiən
Forms: form: humanitarians
Etymology: From humanity + -arian (suffix indicating an advocate of or believer in something), possibly modelled after Unitarian (“Christian who does not believe in the doctrine of the Trinity; pertaining to Unitarianism”) (see noun sense 2 and verb sense 2).
Senses: examples: text: But if we doubt the humanity of the social theories of [Bartolomé de] Las Casas, and the humanitarians of the sixteenth century, what verdict may not posterity accord to those of [William] Wilberforce and the humanitarians of the nineteenth century, when it contemplates the results of their social experiments in St. Domingo, Jamaica, and the other islands of the American Archipelago.
ref: 1856, J[ohn] S. Thrasher, “Preliminary Essay”, in Alexander Humboldt [i.e., Alexander von Humboldt], translated by J. S. Thrasher, The Island of Cuba, […], New York, N.Y.: Derby & Jackson, […]; Cincinnati, Oh.: H. W. Derby, →OCLC, page 53:
text: Mr. [Gilbert] Haven has never forgotten this sacred duty. While our humanitarians have inquired into the natural rights of man, the spirit of modern civilization and the Constitution, he, without despising such inquiries, has sought wisdom and direction at the Cross.
ref: 1870 June, [George Prentice], “Haven’s National Sermons”, in I[saac] W[illiam] Wiley, editor, The Ladies’ Repository: A Monthly Periodical, Devoted to Literature and Religion, volume VI (New Series; volume XXX overall), Cincinnati, Oh.: Hitchcock and Walden; New York, N.Y.: Carlton and Lanahan, →OCLC, page 404, column 1:
text: Their thoughts, wished out into form, make a fit place for the weaker multitude to live in and they are always the humanitarians, giving their life for the world.
ref: 1929, Julia Seton, “Supra-consciousness: Sight—Hearing—Taste—Touch—Smell”, in The Short Cut—Regeneration through Fasting, 2nd edition, Chicago, Ill.: Occult Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 78:
text: And she took the time to lock the door behind her, even though she was rushing upstairs because she's such a humanitarian?
ref: 2000 July 13, Lee Child [pseudonym; James Dover Grant], chapter 31, in Running Blind (A Jack Reacher Novel), New York, N.Y.: Jove Books, published July 2009, →ISBN, page 508:
text: Both Seneca [the Younger] and [Jonathan] Swift were humanitarians who freely served their fellow men.
ref: 2009, Anna Lydia Motto, “Seneca on the Bestowal of Benefits”, in Additional Essays on Seneca (Studien zur klassischen Philologie), Frankfurt am Main, Hesse: Peter Lang, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 106:
text: My parents always affirmed that if you're able to love yourself, you're better able to love your community and those around you, regardless of their ethnicity or race, which makes it easier to be a true humanitarian.
ref: 2015 February, Rashid Shabazz, “Rashid Shabazz”, in Ben Jealous, Trabian Shorters, editors, Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading, and Succeeding, New York, N.Y.: Atria Paperback, →ISBN, page 136:
glosses: A person concerned with people's welfare; a do-gooder or philanthropist.
examples: text: But it will be demanded, how happened it that Irenæus, the pupil of that Polycarp who is repreſented to have been a Humanitarian, ſhould become a zealous advocate for the Deity of Chriſt?
ref: [1792], Benjamin Hobhouse, “Letter IV”, in A Reply to the Rev. F[rancis] Randolph’s Letter to the Rev. Dr. [Joseph] Priestley; or, An Examination of the Rev. F. Randolph’s “Scriptural Revision of Socinian Arguments:” […], Trowbridge, Wiltshire: […] Abraham Small, for T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, section II (Of Your Quotation from Irenæus), page 171:
text: [S]hould any one tell a Humanitarian, that I worſhipped and adored my Saviour, might he not with equal juſtice ſuppoſe me to avow only the ſame ſort of reverence I thought due a parent, or the adoration one profeſſed to pay any beloved object.
ref: 1793, F[rancis] Randolph, Scriptural Revision of Socinian Arguments Vindicated, against the Reply of Benjamin Hobhouse, Esq., Bath, Somerset: […] R. Cruttwell, for T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 34:
text: It is well understood that most Unitarians, especially those recently educated, are humanitarians. They deny the preexistence of Christ, and regard him as no more than a highly gifted and Divinely inspired prophet, a man.
ref: 1829 January, “Introduction”, in The Spirit of the Pilgrims, volume II, number 1, Boston, Mass.: Peirce and Williams, […], →OCLC, page 7:
text: He [Charles Spear] is not a Trinitarian nor yet a Humanitarian, but seems to favor what is sometimes called the Superangelic scheme. He appears to have shrunk from relying on Jesus as a man, and to have been unable to perceive the strict identity of the Son with the Father, and so gets for a Saviour a being neither God nor man.
ref: 1841 July, “Art VIII.—Literary Notices. [Names and Titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. By Charles Spear. Fourth Edition. […] 1841. 12mo. pp. 400. (book review).]”, in The Boston Quarterly Review, volume IV, number III, Boston, Mass.: Benjamin H. Greene, […], →OCLC, page 392:
topics: Christianity
glosses: One who believes that Jesus Christ is fully human and not divine.
examples: text: Therefore, Humanitarians alone devote their present lives to create heavens within themselves and others, and a real paradise upon earth, because they do not waste their time with Pagan delusions, Sceptical doubts, and Atheistical selfishness, but live happily in the present by preparing for themselves and others happier future human lives upon our improveable globe.
ref: 1876, Joachim Kaspary, Natural Laws; or The Infallible Criterion, London: J. A. Brook & Co., […], →OCLC, page 136:
topics: human-sciences
philosophy
sciences
glosses: Synonym of humanist (“a person who believes in the philosophy of humanism”).
synonyms: word: humanist
extra: a person who believes in the philosophy of humanism
Synonyms: word: Good Samaritan
word: altruist
word: angel
word: benefactor
word: do-gooder
word: gentleman
word: humanitarian
word: mensch
word: noble
word: nobleman
word: paragon
word: philanthropist
word: saint
Hypernyms: word: person
Hyponyms: word: hero
word: idol
word: role model
word: volunteer
Meronyms: word: compassion
word: consideration
word: empathy
word: honour
word: integrity
word: kindness
word: respect
word: virtue