Where does “hostess” come from?
Hostess comes from Middle English hostesse, from Middle French hostesse, from Old French ostesce and oste, from Latin hospitem, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʰóstis.
hostess (English): A female host; A female innkeeper; Stewardess: a...
Definitions
- A female host; A female innkeeper; Stewardess: a...
Ancestry of “hostess”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | hostesse | hostess |
| 2 | Middle French | hostesse | hostess |
| 3 | Old French | ostesce | female innkeeper or keeper of a lodging |
| 4 | Old French | oste | innkeeper, landlord; host |
| 5 | Latin | hospitium | A hospitable reception, entertainment,... |
| 6 | Latin | hospes | host; guest, visitor; stranger; foreigner |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | hostipotis | host |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | χostipotis | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰostipotis | master of guests |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pótis | master, ruler; husband |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₃tis | — |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₃- | to drink |