Does ownership of the meaning of the word, 'altruism' rest exclusively with the Ayn Rand personality cult?

The original definition of altruism, as coined by Auguste Comte, was "living for others" and "self-abnegation." Over time, people began associating kindness and benevolence with the word, but never ceased use of the original definition, thus associating kindness and benevolence with living for others and self-abnegation (whether explicitly or implicitly). It is easily noted that kindness and benevolence do not demand living for others or self-abnegation, but calling all those things altruism at once gives off that stigma. Ayn Rand saw this as a problem and tried to renew the original separation of kindness/benevolence from altruism and revert altruism to its original, clear definition. She quite rightly did not want to see the concept of kindness poisoned with self-sacrifice. She claimed no ownership of the meaning of the word, but simply pointed out its actual meaning and explained the contradictions and problems involved in extending the word to encompass these other concepts.