hospital
n.-
1 historical care home (n.) C2 Proficiency Archaican old word for a place that looks after poor or old people for a long time.
a charitable institution for the housing and maintenance of the needy, infirm, or aged. This sense is largely historical or preserved in specific names of almshouses.
ExampleThe old building was originally a hospital for retired sailors.
ExampleThe Royal Hospital Chelsea was founded in the seventeenth century as a retreat for veterans rather than a modern medical facility.
UsageCommonly found in the names of historical British institutions.
- almshouse
- asylum
From Middle English hospital, hospitall, from Old French hospital (Modern French hôpital), from Late Latin hospitālis, hospitāle (“hospice, shelter, guesthouse”), from noun use of Latin hospitālis (“hospitable”), from hospes (“host, guest”). Doublet of hotel and hostel. Displaced native Middle English lechehous, from Old English lǣċehūs (literally “doctor house”).
- Nounhospital
- Nounhospitalization