Hos"pi*tal , a. [L. hospitalis: cf. OF. hospital.]
Hospitable. [Obs.] Howell.
Hos"pi*tal (?), n. [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.
Hear it pronounced