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hospital

Pronunciation: /ˈhɒs.pɪ.tl̩/

The English word “hospital” has 4 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A large medical facility, usually in a building with multiple floors, where seriously ill or injured patients are given extensive medical or surgical treatment.
  2. A building founded for the long-term care of its residents, such as an almshouse.
  3. A place of lodging.

adjective

  1. Hospitable.

Etymology

From Middle English hospital, hospitall, from Old French hospital (Modern French hôpital), from Late Latin hospitālis, hospitāle (“hospice, shelter, guesthouse”), from noun use of Latin hospitālis (“hospitable”), from hospes (“host, guest”). Doublet of hotel and hostel. Displaced native Middle English lechehous, from Old English lǣċehūs (literally “doctor house”).

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