HOSPITAL

hospital, infirmary

(noun) a health facility where patients receive treatment

hospital

(noun) a medical institution where sick or injured people are given medical or surgical care

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

hospital (plural hospitals)

A large medical facility, usually in a building with multiple floors, where seriously ill or injured patients are given extensive medical and/or surgical treatment.

A building founded for the long-term care of its residents, such as an almshouse. The residents may have no physical ailments, but simply need financial support.

(obsolete) A place of lodging.

Synonyms

• sickhouse

• infirmary

Adjective

hospital (comparative more hospital, superlative most hospital)

(obsolete) Hospitable.

Source: Wiktionary

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Hos"pi*tal, n. Etym: [OF. hospital, ospital, F. hôpital, LL. hospitale (or perh. E. hospital is directly from the Late Latin), from L. hospitalis relating to a guest, hospitalia apartments for guests, fr. hospes guest. See Host a landlord, and cf. Hostel, Hotel, Spital.]

1. A place for shelter or entertainment; an inn. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. A building in which the sick, injured, or infirm are received and treated; a public or private institution founded for reception and cure, or for the refuge, of persons diseased in body or mind, or disabled, infirm, or dependent, and in which they are treated either at their own expense, or more often by charity in whole or in part; a tent, building, or other place where the sick or wounded of an army cared for. Hospital ship, a vessel fitted up for a floating hospital.

– Hospital Sunday, a Sunday set apart for simultaneous contribution in churches to hospitals; as, the London Hospital Sunday.

Hos"pi*tal, a. Etym: [L. hospitalis: cf. OF. hospital.]

Definition: Hospitable. [Obs.] Howell.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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