guest
UK: ɡɛst | US: ɡɛst
n. a person who is invited to visit or stay in someone’s home or at an event
n. a customer at a hotel, restaurant, etc.
n. a visiting performer or speaker
The word "guest" traces back to Old English gæst (stranger, visitor), derived from Proto-Germanic gastiz, meaning "stranger" or "host." Interestingly, the same root (ghosti-) in Proto-Indo-European (PIE) gave rise to both "guest" (someone welcomed) and "host" (someone who welcomes), reflecting the reciprocal nature of hospitality. Over time, the meaning narrowed to focus on the visitor’s role. The modern spelling stabilized in Middle English, dropping the Old English æ but retaining the core idea of a temporary participant in a social or commercial space.
We welcomed the guest with a warm meal.
The hotel offers free Wi-Fi for all its guests.
She was a guest speaker at the conference.
Please don’t treat me like a guest—I’m family!
The talk show featured a famous celebrity as its guest.