English
altruism
Altruism comes from French altruisme, from autrui ‘of or to others’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘beyond, other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other, another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljos‘another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*aliteros‘other (of two)’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalterī
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*alteruinext step skipped: Old French altre
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400autrui‘others’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentautrui‘of or to others’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentaltruisme
- Englishearliest quotation 1918altruism
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘beyond, other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other, another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljos‘another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*aliteros‘other (of two)’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalterī
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*alteruinext step skipped: Old French altre
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400autrui‘others’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentautrui‘of or to others’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentaltruisme
- Englishearliest quotation 1918altruism
Earliest quotation: 1918, William Babington Maxwell, Indianapolis: “The preposterous altruism too![…]Resist not evil. It is an…”
The story
From French altruisme, which was coined in 1830 by Auguste Comte from autrui (‘of or to others’) + -isme, from Old French, from Latin alteri, dative of alter (‘other’) (whence also English alter). Apparently inspired by the French Latin legal phrase l'autrui, from le bien, le droit d'autrui (‘the good, the right of the other’). Introduced into English by George Henry Lewes in 1853, in his translation Comte’s Philosophy of the Sciences, 1, xxi.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’
as, all, old, adult, el, element, ultimate, elder, ellen, ultra, ou, qualification, alumni, outrage, alter, adolescent, altitude, alpine, altar, abolish, alt, alias, alum, alto, proletariat, retaliate, auld, alimony, alp, ulterior, coalesce, foetal, aad, eld, exalt, althea, altimeter, withal, 58 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos ‘other, another’
else, alienation, alienate, parallax, inalienable, 30 more
through Proto-Italic *aljos ‘another’
through Proto-Italic *aliteros ‘other (of two)’
Today it means
noun Regard for others, both natural and moral without regard for oneself; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / altruism