Where does “hospital” come from?
Hospital derives from Old French hospital, from Latin hospitalis, an adjective formed from Latin hostis meaning guest or stranger, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʰóstis.
hospital (English): A large medical facility, usually in a building...
Definitions
- A large medical facility, usually in a building...
Ancestry of “hospital”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | hospital | A hostel or guesthouse; a place of accomodation... |
| 2 | Old French | hospital | hospital; hospitable; welcoming |
| 3 | Late Latin | hospitale | hospice; hospital, guesthouse; shelter, hospice,... |
| 4 | Latin | hospitālis | Of or pertaining to a host or guest |
| 5 | Latin | hospes | host; guest, visitor; stranger; foreigner |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | hostipotis | host |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | χostipotis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰostipotis | master of guests |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pótis | master, ruler; husband |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₃tis | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₃- | to drink |