humanize

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: hu=man=ize

CIDE DICTIONARY

humanize, v. t. [Cf. F. humaniser.].

•  To render human or humane; to soften; to make gentle by overcoming cruel dispositions and rude habits; to refine or civilize.  [1913 Webster]

  "Was it the business of magic to humanize our natures with compassion?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To give a human character or expression to.  Caird.  [1913 Webster]
•  To convert into something human or belonging to man; as, to humanize vaccine lymph.  [1913 Webster]

humanize, v. i. 

 To become or be made more humane; to become civilized; to be ameliorated.  [1913 Webster]
"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."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

humanize, v.tr. (also -ise)
1 make human; give a human character to.
2 make humane.

Derivative

humanization n.

Etymology

F humaniser (as HUMAN)

ROGET THESAURUS

humanize

Courtesy

VB be courteous, show courtesy, mind one's P's and Q's, behave oneself, be all things to all men, conciliate, speak one fair, take in good part, make the amiable, do the amiable, look as if butter would not melt in one's mouth, mend one's manners, receive, do the honors, usher, greet, hail, bid welcome, welcome, welcome with open arms, shake hands, hold out the hand, press the hand, squeeze the hand, press the flesh, bid Godspeed, speed the parting guest, cheer, serenade, salute, embrace, kiss, kiss hands, drink to, pledge, hob and nob, move to, nod to, smile upon, uncover, cap, touch the hat, take off the hat, doff the cap, present arms, make way for, bow, make one's bow, make a leg, scrape, curtsy, courtesy, bob a curtsy, bob a courtesy, kneel, bow the knee, bend the knee, visit, wait upon, present oneself, pay one's respects, pay a visit, dance attendance on, pay attentions to, do homage to, prostrate oneself, give one's duty to, send one's duty to render polite, polish, civilize, humanize.