the quality of being human; the peculiar nature of man, by which he is distinguished from other beings.-mankind collectively; the human race.-the quality of being humane; the kind feelings, dispositions, and sympathies of man; especially, a disposition to relieve persons or animals in distress, and to treat all creatures with kindness and tenderness.-mental cultivation; liberal education; instruction in classical and polite literature.-the branches of polite or elegant learning; as language, rhetoric, poetry, and the ancient classics; belles-letters.