hospitality

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hospitality

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From Middle English hospitalite, from Old French hospitalité (modern French hospitalité), from Latin hospitālitās (“hospitality”), from hospitālis (“hospitable”), from hospes (“guest", "host”). Displaced native Old English cumlīþnes (literally “guest gentleness”).

• (General American) IPA^(key): /hɑs.pɪˈtæl.ɪ.ti/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /hɒs.pɪˈtæl.ɪ.ti/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ælɪti

hospitality (countable and uncountable, plural hospitalities)

1. The act or service of welcoming, receiving, hosting, or entertaining guests; an appropriate attitude of openness, respect, and generosity toward guests.

   Synonym: guestfriendship

   Antonym: inhospitality

   Please thank our hosts for their hospitality during the week that we stayed.

   • 1834, L E L, chapter XLII, in Francesca Carrara. , volume III, London: Richard Bentley, , (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 350:

     "Quarrels!" said Charles; "do not use so disagreeable a word. I am thinking of nothing but the thanks I owe Lord Avonleigh for his hospitality"—Lord Avonleigh bent to the very edge of the table—"and the favours I am about to ask."

   • 1708, [Jonathan Swift], “The Metamorphosis of Baucis and Philemon, Burlesqu’d; from the 8th Book of Ovid”, in Baucis and Philemon; a Poem. , London: H. Hills, , published 1709, →OCLC, page 3:

     In Ancient Times, as Story tells, / The Saints would often leave their Cells, / And ſtrole about, but hide their Quality, / To try good Peoples Hoſpitality.

   • 1864 May – 1865 November, Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend. , volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Chapman and Hall, , published 1865, →OCLC:

     Mr Venus, reminded of the duties of hospitality, produced some rum.

2. (business) The business of providing catering, lodging and entertainment service; the industry which includes the operation of hotels, restaurants, and similar enterprises.

   After graduating from college, she found a job in hospitality.

3. The food, drink, and entertainment given to customers by a company or organization or provided to visitors by a private host.

• host
• hospital
• hospitable

• “hospitality”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “hospitality”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• hospitality in MacMillan Dictionary (Macmillan Education Limited 2009–2020)