[f. L. canīnus, after humanity.]
1. Canine quality or trait; dog nature or race.
1794. Mathias, Purs. Lit. (1798), 92. I surely may be excused for this caninity.
1879. G. Macdonald, Sir Gibbie, I. ix. 131. A lover of humanity can hardly fail to be a lover of caninity.
1884. A. A. Putnam, Ten Yrs. Police Judge, xii. 86. These dog-masters have imbibed the worst qualities of caninity.
2. Sympathy with dogs, kindness to dogs.
1864. N. & Q., Ser. III. VI. 447. Our Duke’s caninity had the more benevolent purpose, etc.
1886. Sat. Rev., 27 Feb., 289/1. The humanity of the wire muzzle, or rather its enlightened caninity.
