humanize

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Humanized p. pr. & vb. n. Humanizing ] [ Cf. F. humaniser. ] 1. To render human or humane; to soften; to make gentle by overcoming cruel dispositions and rude habits; to refine or civilize. [ Also spelled humanise. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Was it the business of magic to humanize our natures with compassion? Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give a human character or expression to. “Humanized divinities.” Caird. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) To convert into something human or belonging to man; as, to humanize vaccine lymph. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become or be made more humane; to become civilized; to be ameliorated. [ 1913 Webster ]

By the original law of nations, war and extirpation were the punishment of injury. Humanizing by degrees, it admitted slavery instead of death; a further step was the exchange of prisoners instead of slavery. Franklin. [ 1913 Webster ]