menschlicher

Menschlicher is the comparative form of the German adjective menschlich, meaning more humane or more human. It is used to express a higher degree of humanity or humaneness in comparison to something else.

In German grammar, adjectives change form to reflect gender, number, and case. The base comparative form menschlicher is typically masculine singular nominative; feminine and neuter forms appear as menschlichere and menschlicheres respectively, with plural forms also taking the ending menschlichere in many contexts. The exact ending depends on the article or determiner used with the noun.

Usage examples illustrate its meaning and function. Eine menschlichere Politik is a more humane policy. Ein menschlicherer Mann describes a man who is more humane, and eine menschlichere Haltung can refer to a more humane attitude. Predicatively, one might say, Er verhält sich menschlicher, or Das Verhalten ist menschlicher geworden, meaning he behaves more humanely or the behavior has become more humane.

Etymology and related terms: menschlicher derives from Mensch, meaning person or human, plus the suffix -lich, which forms adjectives indicating a characteristic. Related words include Menschlichkeit (humanness, humanity), Mensch (human being), and the related adjective menschlich with its various inflected forms.

See also: Menschlichkeit, Mensch, menschlich, German grammar and adjectives.