Etymograph

English

hyperaltruism

Hyperaltruism 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. Englishtodayhyperaltruism1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English hyperaltruism

Lineage

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

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’

as, all, old, adult, el, element, ultimate, ellen, elder, ultra, qualification, ou, alumni, altitude, alter, adolescent, outrage, altar, alpine, alt, abolish, alias, alto, alum, proletariat, retaliate, alimony, auld, 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 Extreme altruism

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “hyperaltruism”. 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- / hyperaltruism

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