n. [ F., fr. L. hospitium hospitality, a place where strangers are entertained, fr. hospes stranger, guest. See Host a landlord. ] A convent or monastery which is also a place of refuge or entertainment for travelers on some difficult road or pass, as in the Alps; as, the Hospice of the Great St. Bernard. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. OF. hospitable, LL. hospitare to receive as a guest. See Host a landlord. ] 1. Receiving and entertaining strangers or guests with kindness and without reward; kind to strangers and guests; characterized by hospitality. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Proceeding from or indicating kindness and generosity to guests and strangers; as, hospitable rites. [ 1913 Webster ]

To where you taper cheers the vale
With hospitable ray. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being hospitable; hospitality. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a hospitable manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. hospitagium, for L. hospitium. See Hospice. ] Hospitality. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. hospitalis: cf. OF. hospital. ] Hospitable. [ Obs. ] Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also hospitaller. ] [ F. hospitalier. See Hospital, and cf. Hostler. ] 1. One residing in a hospital, for the purpose of receiving the poor, the sick, and strangers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of an order of knights who built a hospital at Jerusalem for pilgrims, A. D. 1042. They were called Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and after the removal of the order to Malta, Knights of Malta. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A form of medical insurance that pays for all or part of the fees for a person's residence and treatment in a hospital. [ PJC ]

v. t. To place (a person) in a hospital in order to receive medical treatment, for observation, or for rest. [ Chiefly Brit. ]
Syn. -- hospitalize. [ PJC ]