Word of the Day

: June 7, 2009

altruism

noun AL-troo-iz-um

What It Means

: unselfish interest in the welfare of others

altruism in Context

Julian’s altruism is evident in the way he spends his time, including the ten hours per week that he spends volunteering at the homeless shelter.

Did You Know?

"Altruism" refers to a quality possessed by people whose focus is on something other than themselves, and its root reveals the object of those generous tendencies. "Altruism" derives from the French word "autrui," meaning "other people." "Autrui" in turn developed from the Old French term "autre," which means "other" and which itself comes from Latin "alter," also meaning "other." That Latin source eventually caused a curious thing to happen. Under the influence of "alter," the French "autrui" gave rise to the "altrui-" of both the French "altruisme" and the English "altruism." The English term has been in use since at least the mid-1800s.