Hospitable

/hɑˈspɪtəbəl/ adjective

Definition

Friendly and welcoming to guests; making visitors feel comfortable and valued.

Etymology

From Latin 'hospitalis' meaning 'of a guest,' derived from 'hospes' (host/guest). The word evolved through Old French 'hospitable' to describe the virtue of generous welcome.

Kelly Says

The word 'hospitable' shares the same root as 'hospital'—both come from the idea of caring for others, but one is about social welcome while the other is about medical care. Interestingly, medieval hospitals were often run by religious communities and were considered expressions of hospitality.

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