■ noun
1》 an institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people.
2》 historical a hospice, especially one run by the Knights Hospitallers.
Derivatives
~ization or ~isation noun
~ize or ~ise verb
Origin
ME: via OFr. from med. L. ~e , neut. of L. ~is 'hospitable', from hospes , hospit- (see host 1 ).