different between altruism vs trust

English

Alternative forms

• altruïsm

Etymology

English from 1853. From French altruisme, which was coined in 1830 by Auguste Comte from autrui (“of or to others”) +? -isme, from Old French, from Latin alteri, dative of alter (“other”) (from which also English alter). Apparently inspired by the French Latin legal phrase l'autrui, from le bien, le droit d'autrui (“the good, the right of the other”). Introduced into English by George Henry Lewes in 1853, in his translation Comte’s Philosophy of the Sciences, 1, xxi.

Noun

altruism (countable and uncountable, plural altruisms)

1. Regard for others, both natural and moral without regard for oneself; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness.

   Synonyms: selflessness, philanthropy

   Antonyms: egoism, selfishness, misanthropy

   • 1995, George E. Vaillant, The Wisdom of the Ego, page 68,

     Altruism allows doing for others as one would be done by. Unlike reaction formation, which also gives to the object what the self desires, altruism leaves the self at least partly gratified. Unlike reaction formation, altruism tempers asceticism with pleasure. Unlike passive aggression and martyrdom, altruism allows the object to feel blessed and not afflicted. Altruism attracts people to the user; martyrdom repels them even as it holds them close in chains.

2. (biology, sociobiology) Action or behaviour that benefits another or others at some cost to the performer.

   Synonym: philanthropy

   • 2013 December 24, Laura Spinney, Goodwill hunting: Random ants of kindness, New Scientist,

     Altruism is a behaviour of an individual that benefits another at its own expense. […] She decided to investigate what motivates ants to undertake these dangerous missions, where they risk getting trapped themselves or, worse, eaten by predatory antlion larvae, which dig pits and lurk, semi-concealed, at the bottom with their jaws wide open. Such apparently selfless rescue behaviour is seen by many as one of the purest forms of altruism. […] Being nice to relatives is not pure altruism because they share your genes so, by helping them, you promote your own genetic heritage.

Derived terms

• altruist (“one who practises altruism”, agent noun)
• altruistic
• biological altruism

Translations

See also

• agape (“spiritual love for others”)
• bell the cat
• brotherly love
• misandry (“hatred of males”)
• misogyny (“hatred of females”)
• selflessness

Further reading

• altruism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• altruism in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• altruism in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

References

Anagrams

• muralist, traulism, ultraism

Romanian

Etymology

From French altruisme.

Noun

altruism n (uncountable)

1. altruism

Declension

Swedish

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?altr???sm/

Noun

altruism c

1. altruism

Declension

Related terms

• altruistisk
• altruist

English

Etymology

From Middle English truste (“trust, protection”), from Old Norse traust (“confidence, help, protection”), from Proto-Germanic *traust?, from Proto-Indo-European *drowsdom, from Proto-Indo-European *deru- (“be firm, hard, solid”).

Akin to Danish trøst, tröst (“trust”), Saterland Frisian Traast (“comfort, solace”), West Frisian treast (“comfort, solace”), Dutch troost (“comfort, consolation”), German Trost (“comfort, consolation”), Gothic trausti (trausti, “alliance, pact”). More at true, tree.

Pronunciation

• enPR: tr?st, IPA^(key): /tr?st/, [t??st], [t??st], [t???-]
• (Northern England) IPA^(key): /tr?st/
• Rhymes: -?st

Noun

trust (countable and uncountable, plural trusts)

1. Confidence in or reliance on some person or quality.

   • taking things upon trust.

   • 1671, John Milton, Samson Agonistes

     O ever-failing trust / In mortal strength!

2. Dependence upon something in the future; hope.
3. Confidence in the future payment for goods or services supplied; credit.

4. That which is committed or entrusted; something received in confidence; a charge.
5. That upon which confidence is reposed; ground of reliance; hope.
6. (rare) Trustworthiness, reliability.
7. The condition or obligation of one to whom anything is confided; responsible charge or office.
   • 17th century, John Denham, Of Justice

     Reward them well, if they observe their trust.

8. (law) The confidence vested in a person who has legal ownership of a property to manage for the benefit of another.

9. (law) An arrangement whereby property or money is given to be held by a third party (a trustee), on the basis that it will be managed for the benefit of, or eventually transferred to, a stated beneficiary; for example, money to be given to a child when he or she reaches adulthood.
10. A group of businessmen or traders organised for mutual benefit to produce and distribute specific commodities or services, and managed by a central body of trustees.
11. (computing) Affirmation of the access rights of a user of a computer system.

Synonyms

Antonyms

• distrust
• mistrust
• untrust
• wantrust

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

trust (third-person singular simple present trusts, present participle trusting, simple past and past participle trusted)

1. (transitive) To place confidence in, to rely on, to confide in.
   • c. 1597, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Act I scene iv:

     I will never trust his word after.

   • October 5, 1751, Samuel Johnson, The Rambler No. 162

     He that trusts without reserve will at last be deceived.

2. (intransitive, with in) To have faith in; to rely on for continuing support or aid.

   ? official US motto

3. (transitive) To give credence to; to believe; to credit.
4. (transitive) To hope confidently; to believe (usually with a phrase or infinitive clause as the object)

   • I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face.

   • We trust we have a good conscience.

5. (transitive) to show confidence in a person by entrusting them with something.
6. (transitive) To commit, as to one's care; to entrust.
   • .

     Merchants were not willing to trust precious cargoes to any custody but that of a man-of-war.

7. (transitive) To give credit to; to sell to upon credit, or in confidence of future payment.

8. (intransitive, followed by to) To rely on (something), as though having trust (on it).

9. (archaic, transitive) To risk; to venture confidently.
10. (intransitive) To have trust; to be credulous; to be won to confidence; to confide.
    • I will trust and not be afraid.

11. (archaic, intransitive) To sell or deliver anything in reliance upon a promise of payment; to give credit.

Antonyms

• distrust
• mistrust

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

trust (comparative more trust, superlative most trust)

1. (obsolete) Secure, safe.
2. (obsolete) Faithful, dependable.
3. (law) of or relating to a trust.

Anagrams

• strut, sturt

French

Etymology

From English trust.

Pronunciation

• (France, Quebec) IPA^(key): /t?œst/

Noun

trust m (plural trusts)

1. a trust (a group of businessmen or traders)

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English trust.

Noun

trust m (invariable)

1. trust (group of people)

Derived terms

• trust di cervelli (“brains trust”)

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from English trust.

Noun

trust m (plural trusts)

1. (finance) trust