host 1
— hostless , adj. — hostship , n.
/hohst/ , n.
1. a person who receives or entertains guests at home or elsewhere: the host at a theater party.
2. a master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program.
3. a person, place, company, or the like, that provides services, resources, etc., as for a convention or sporting event: Our city would like to serve as host for the next Winter Olympics.
4. the landlord of an inn.
5. a living animal or plant from which a parasite obtains nutrition.
6. Surg. the recipient of a graft. Cf. donor (def. 2).
v.t.
7. to be the host at (a dinner, reception, etc.): He hosted a reception for new members.
8. to act as host to: The vice president hosted the foreign dignitaries during their visit.
9. to act as master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for: to host a popular talk show.
v.i.
10. to perform the duties or functions of a host.
[ 1250-1300; ME ( h ) oste (n.) hospit- (s. of hospes ) host, guest, stranger, perh. hosti-pot ( i ) s or * hos-pot ( i ) s, equiv. to hos ( ti )- comb. form of hostis stranger (see HOST 2 ) + - pot ( i ) s, akin to potis having the power to, posse to be able (see POTENT) (hence, "one granting hospitality, one in charge of guests"); cf., with different initial elements, Gk despótes master, DESPOT, Lith viešpats lord ]
host 2
/hohst/ , n.
1. a multitude or great number of persons or things: a host of details.
2. an army.
[ 1250-1300; ME ( h ) oste hostis stranger, enemy; akin to GUEST ]
Syn. 1. swarm, crowd, drove, throng, horde, myriad.