Word of the Day for Thursday, December 1, 2011 December 1, 2011

altruistic \al-troo-IS-tik\, adjective: 1. Unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others. 2. Animal Behavior. Of or pertaining to behavior by an animal that may be to its disadvantage but that benefits others of its kind, often its close relatives. I thought you were an altruistic banker, nothing more, nothing less. A civic-minded altruistic banker. – Inman Majors, The Millionaires: A Novel An altruistic act is an act performed for the welfare of others. It is unselfish, as opposed to an act performed for self, which is selfish. – Jack London, The Sea-Wolf Altruistic was coined in 1830 by philosopher Auguste Comte. It originates in the French word altrui meaning “of or to others” from the Latin word alteri meaning “other.”

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