Brewer's: Humanities

or Humanity Studies. Grammar, rhetoric, and poetry, with Greek and Latin (literæ humaniores); in contradistinction to divinity (literæ divinæ).

“The humanities ... is used to designate those studies which are considered the most specially adapted for training ... true humanity in every man.” —Trench: On the Study of Words, Lecture iii. p. 69.

Humber Chief of the Huns, defeated by Locrin, King of England, and drowned in the river Abus, ever since called the Humber. (Geoffrey of Monmouth: Chronicles.)

Their chieftain Humber named was aright Unto the mighty streame him to betake, Where he an end of battall and of life did make.

Spenser: Faërie Queene ii. 10.

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