Humean

/ˈhjuːmɪən/ adj, noun

adj, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: An adherent or advocate of Humean doctrines.
  • Grammar: humean is listed as adj, noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: agnostic, doubtful, dubious, incredulous.
  • Usage evidence: § Treatiſe of Human Nature, L. 467. In the P. S. to this letter, a view will be given of the Humian ſyſtem, taken exactly as it appeared to its author at ſix o’clock in the evening.

How to use "humean"

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  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "humean" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

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  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "humean" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

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Compare nearby meanings

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Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "humean" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

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3. Confirm with context

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Final meaning check

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Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An adherent or advocate of Humean doctrines.

    "[H]e who would educate a young man in the principles of Unitarianism will, in all probability, educate him in the principles of infidelity. The reason is obvious. In order to reduce his religious creed to the level of Unitarianism, he must educate him in that “freedom of inquiry,” which teaches him first to dispute and then to reject all the leading features of Christianity, upon the very same grounds, and on the same principles, on which the Deist rejects the probability of a revelation, and upon which, if pushed to their full extent, the Humian will question even the being and the attributes of God. Disputandi pruritus, animi scabies."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or pertaining to the philosophy of David Hume (1711–1776). not-comparable

    "§ Treatiſe of Human Nature, L. 467. In the P. S. to this letter, a view will be given of the Humian ſyſtem, taken exactly as it appeared to its author at ſix o’clock in the evening."

Example

"§ Treatiſe of Human Nature, L. 467. In the P. S. to this letter, a view will be given of the Humian ſyſtem, taken exactly as it appeared to its author at ſix o’clock in the evening."

Common questions

What does "humean" mean?

An adherent or advocate of Humean doctrines.

What is a synonym for "humean"?

Common synonyms include: agnostic, doubtful, dubious, incredulous, platonic, sartrian.

How do you use "humean" in a sentence?

§ Treatiſe of Human Nature, L. 467. In the P. S. to this letter, a view will be given of the Humian ſyſtem, taken exactly as it appeared to its author at ſix o’clock in the evening.

How do you pronounce "humean"?

Pronounced /ˈhjuːmɪən/.

Etymology

From Hume (“David Hume”) + -an.

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