dehumanized
UK[ˌdiːˈhjuːmənaɪzd]US[ˌdiːˈhjuːmənaɪzd]
adj
Deprived of positive human qualities; treated as not human or as less than human.
verb (past tense)
Made someone or something seem less human or less worthy of humane treatment.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
human
ized
de
remove
human
human being
ized
made into
Etymology
The word 'dehumanized' is constructed from three distinct morphemes, charting a clear conceptual path. The Latin prefix 'de-' introduces a sense of reversal or removal. It attaches to the core Latin root 'humanus,' which pertains to mankind and its characteristic qualities of compassion and dignity. Finally, the Greek-derived verbal suffix '-ize,' in its past participle form '-ized,' completes the word, indicating the action of having been made into a certain state. Thus, the literal construction "to have been made removed from human qualities" perfectly encapsulates the modern abstract meaning of stripping away humanity, whether psychologically, morally, or through systemic treatment.
Analysis
Structure: de (remove) + human (human being) + ized (made into)
de: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "down from, off, away, reversing or removing."
human: Latin origin (humanus), meaning "of or belonging to man." It functions as the core noun/adjective root.
ized: English suffix, from Greek -izein via Latin -izare and French -iser, meaning "to make, to become, to treat in a specified way." It forms past participles/adjectives from verbs.
Examples
The prisoners were subjected to dehumanized conditions.
Propaganda is often used to dehumanized the enemy in times of war.
He felt dehumanized by the cold, bureaucratic process.