al·tru·ism n. Unselfish concern for the welfare of others; selflessness.
Zoology. Instinctive cooperative behavior that is detrimental to the individual but contributes to the survival of the species.
[French
altruisme, probably from Italian
altrui, someone else, from Latin
alter, other. See al-1 in Indo-European Roots.]
altru·ist n.
altru·istic adj.
altru·isti·cal·ly adv.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=altruism altruism Regard for others, both natural and moral; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness; opposed to
egoism or
selfishness.
Origin: F. Altruisme (a word of Comte's), It. Altrui of or to others, fr. L. Alter another.
