altruism English · revision 1109

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæl.tɹu.ɪz.əm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|altruisme]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) coined or popularized by the philosopher Auguste Comte on the model of ''égoïsme'',^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from ''autrui'' “others”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|fro|altrui]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from a Vulgar Latin form of [[la|alter|t=other]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The ''-l-'' was reinserted on the Latin model.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) The American Heritage Dictionary instead takes it from Italian ''altrui''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Devotion to the welfare of others as a principle of action, the opposite of egoism (1853).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word entered English through translations of Comte.^(RHWU) In 19th-century ethics Herbert Spencer argued that altruism was as essential as egoism.^(Etymonline) In animal behaviour it means action that benefits others of the species at some cost to the animal itself.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1830 – Comte's ''altruisme''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1853 – ''altruism'', ''altruistic''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Unselfish concern for the welfare of others; [[selflessness]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In animal behaviour, action that benefits others of the species at a cost to oneself.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[altruist]]

+ * [[altruistic]]

+ * [[altruistically]]

+ * [[hyperaltruism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[egoism]]

+ * [[alter]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House notes that ''altruism'' is opposed to ''egoism''.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}