Noun

(en noun)

A denial; a renunciation; denial of desire or self-interest.

*

*{{quote-book, year=1907, author=

, title=The Dust of Conflict , chapter=20, url=http://openlibrary.org/works/OL4429277W , passage=Tony's face expressed relief, and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse, but it may have been a momentary one, while in the case of monk and crusader there must have been a sustaining purpose, and possibly a great abnegation , a leaving of lands and possessions.”}}

Noun

(en noun)

Regard for others, both natural and moral without regard for oneself; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness; selflessness; contrasted with egoism or selfishness .

*, chapter=16

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=The preposterous altruism too!

* 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.

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

* 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.Being nice to relatives is not pure ' altruism because they share your genes so, by helping them, you promote your own genetic heritage.