English
altruist
Altruist comes from French altruisme ‘altruism’, from autrui ‘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–presentsame form‘others’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentaltruisme‘altruism’
- English1500–presentaltruism
- Englishtodayaltruist
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
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–presentsame form‘others’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentaltruisme‘altruism’
- English1500–presentaltruism
- Englishtodayaltruist
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 A person showing altruism.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / altruist