[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

humanity \human"ity\, n.; pl. humanities. l. humanitas: cf.
   f. humanit'e. see human.
   1. the quality of being human; the peculiar nature of man, by
      which he is distinguished from other beings.
      1913 webster

   2. mankind collectively; the human race.
      1913 webster

            but hearing oftentimes
            the still, and music humanity.        --wordsworth.
      1913 webster

            it is a debt we owe to humanity.      --s. s. smith.
      1913 webster

   3. 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. "the
      common offices of humanity and friendship." --locke.
      1913 webster

   4. mental cultivation; liberal education; instruction in
      classical and polite literature.
      1913 webster

            polished with humanity and the study of witty
            science.                              --holland.
      1913 webster

   5. pl. with definite article the branches of polite or
      elegant learning; as language, rhetoric, poetry, and the
      ancient classics; belles-letters.
      1913 webster

   note: the cultivation of the languages, literature, history,
         and archaeology of greece and rome, were very
         commonly called literae humaniores, or, in english,
         the humanities, . . . by way of opposition to the
         literae divinae, or divinity. --g. p. marsh.
         1913 webster
see also:
humanities human 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

humanities
     n : studies intended to provide general knowledge and
         intellectual skills rather than occupational or
         professional skills; "the college of arts and sciences"
         syn: humanistic discipline, liberal arts, arts
see also:
humanistic discipline liberal arts arts 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

26 moby thesaurus words for "humanities":
   academic specialty, area, classical education, core curriculum,
   course, course of study, curriculum, discipline, elective, field,
   general education, general studies, liberal arts, major, minor,
   proseminar, quadrivium, refresher course, scientific education,
   seminar, specialty, study, subdiscipline, subject,
   technical education, trivium

Humanities >> H Words
Humanities, definition of term: Humanities
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