Etymograph

English

altruist

Altruist comes from French altruisme ‘altruism’, from autrui ‘others’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-1‘beyond, other’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos1‘other, another’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljos1‘another’reconstructed
  4. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aliteros1‘other (of two)’reconstructed
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalterī1
  6. Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*alterui1next step skipped: Old French altre
  7. Old Frenchc. 842–1400autrui1‘others’
  8. Frenchc. 1600–presentautrui1‘others’
  9. Frenchc. 1600–presentaltruisme1‘altruism’
  10. English1500–presentaltruism1
  11. Englishtodayaltruist1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English altruist

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-Wiktionary, English altruist‘beyond, other’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyosWiktionary, English altruist‘other, another’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljosWiktionary, English altruist‘another’reconstructed
  4. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aliterosWiktionary, English altruist‘other (of two)’reconstructed
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalterīWiktionary, English altruist
  6. Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*alteruiWiktionary, English altruistnext step skipped: Old French altre
  7. Old Frenchc. 842–1400autruiWiktionary, English altruist‘others’
  8. Frenchc. 1600–presentautruiWiktionary, English altruist‘others’
  9. Frenchc. 1600–presentaltruismeWiktionary, English altruist‘altruism’
  10. English1500–presentaltruismWiktionary, English altruist
  11. EnglishtodayaltruistWiktionary, English altruist

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, 57 more

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos ‘other, another’

else, alienation, alienate, parallax, inalienable, 29 more

through Proto-Italic *aljos ‘another’

alien, alibi, 21 more

through Proto-Italic *aliteros ‘other (of two)’

alternate, adultery, altercation, alternation, 18 more

Today it means

noun A person showing altruism.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “altruist”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / altruist

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