hospitality
/ˌhɑ.spɪˈtæl.ə.ti/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.90 in modern English
19
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
5
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The act or service of welcoming, receiving, hosting, or entertaining guests; an appropriate attitude of openness, respect, and generosity toward guests.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The business of providing catering, lodging and entertainment service; the industry which includes the operation of hotels, restaurants, and similar enterprises.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Please thank our hosts for their hospitality during the week that we stayed."
- ""Quarrels!" said Charles; "do not use so disagreeable a word. I am thinking of nothing but the thanks I owe Lord Avonleigh for his hospitality"—Lord Avonleigh bent to the very edge of the table—"and the favours I am about to ask.""
- "In Ancient Times, as Story tells, / The Saints would often leave their Cells, / And ſtrole about, but hide their Quality, / To try good Peoples Hoſpitality."
- "Mr Venus, reminded of the duties of hospitality, produced some rum."
- "We were over the border here, into Northern Ireland, and the post office had a very English atmosphere. It was pleasant, too, much as we enjoyed the hospitality of the Republic, to be buying stamps with the Queen's head on them, and to be posting our cards in a red pillar-box, instead of a green one."
- "After graduating from college, she found a job in hospitality."
Etymology
From Middle English hospitalite, from Old French hospitalité (modern French hospitalité), from Latin hospitālitās (“hospitality”), from hospitālis (“hospitable”), from hospes (“guest", "host”). Displaced native Old English cumlīþnes (literally “guest gentleness”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: hospitalite, hospitalité, hospitālitās
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌhɑ.spɪˈtæl.ə.ti/
- British English: /ˌhɒs.pɪˈtæl.ɪ.ti/