This paper considers the characteristic 0 counterparts of the generalized Witt algebras defined by I. Kaplansky [Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 60, 470-471 (1954)]. Call such an algebra W. After showing the construction of such algebras the author proves that there exists a largest proper ideal, it is abelian and it is complemented in W by a simple subalgebra S where S itself is one of these algebras. In certain cases these algebras are isomorphic to the derivation algebra of \(F[x_ 1,x_ 1^{- 1},...,x_ n,x_ n^{-1}]\) in indeterminates \(x_ 1,...,x_ n\) where F is the base field.