hospital
UK: ˈhɒspɪtl | US: ˈhɑːspɪtl
n. an institution providing medical and surgical treatment for ill or injured people.
n. (historical) a place offering shelter or rest to travelers or the needy.
hospital = hospit<host/guest> + al<noun suffix>
- hospit: From Latin hospes (host/guest), reflecting the word’s original sense of "shelter for strangers or travelers."
- al: A noun-forming suffix indicating a place or institution.
Etymology Origin:
The word hospital traces back to Latin hospitālis (related to guests), derived from hospes (host/guest). Initially, it referred to places offering hospitality to travelers (e.g., pilgrims). By the 13th century, its meaning narrowed to institutions caring for the sick, aligning with the Latin hospitāle (a guesthouse for the needy). The shift from "shelter" to "medical care" reflects the historical role of religious orders in providing both lodging and healing.
She was admitted to the hospital after the accident.
The old inn once served as a hospital for wounded soldiers.
Volunteers donated toys to the children’s hospital.
Modern hospitals are equipped with advanced technology.
The term "hospitality" shares roots with "hospital."