hospital
/ˈhɒspɪtəl/
noun
Origin
Latin
hospitālis — relating to a guest or host
Overview
Meaning Now
- An institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people.
- Archaic: A place of hospitality or a charitable institution for the needy, aged, or infirm.
Literal older meaning
a place for guests/strangers
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
hospital
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The concept of a 'hospital' evolved from medieval religious establishments intended to provide 'hospitality' to pilgrims, the poor, and the sick. The linguistic overlap with 'hostel', 'hotel', and 'hospice' reflects this shared origin as places of shelter.
Evolution
- Latin
hospitāle
“guest-house”
Neut. of hospitālis.
- Old French
hospital
“shelter, hospice, hospital”
- Middle English
hospital
“charitable institution for the needy”
Borrowed from Old French.
- Early Modern English
hospital
“specialized medical treatment facility”
Meaning narrowed from general charity to medical care.
Connections
Word parts
hospit-
root
guest/host
-al
suffix
relating to
Related across languages
French
hôpital
hospital
Italian
ospedale
hospital
Spanish
hospital
Explore next
Related to hospital
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.