Horticulture, hor′ti-kul-tūr, n. the art of cultivating gardens.—adj. Horticul′tural, pertaining to the culture of gardens.—n. Horticul′turist, one versed in the art of cultivating gardens.—Hortus siccus, a collection of dried plants arranged in a book. [L. hortus, a garden, cultura—colĕre, to cultivate.]
Hosannna, hō-zan′a, n. an exclamation of praise to God, or a prayer for blessings. [Gr. hōsanna—Heb. hōshī‛āh nnā, hōshīā‛, save, nā, I pray.]
Hose, hōz, n. a covering for the legs or feet: stockings: socks: a flexible pipe for conveying water, so called from its shape:—pl. Hose; (B.) Hos′en.—ns. Hose′man, one who directs the stream of water from the hose of a fire-engine; Hose′pipe; Hose′-reel, a large revolving drum or reel for carrying hose for fire-engines, &c.; Hō′sier, one who deals in hose, or stockings and socks, &c.; Hō′siery, hose in general. [A.S. hosa, pl. hosan; Dut. hoos, Ger. hose.]
Hospice, hos′pēs, n. a house of entertainment for strangers, esp. such kept by monks on some Alpine passes for travelers.—Also Hospit′ium. [Fr.,—L. hospitium—hospes, a stranger treated as a guest.]
Hospitable, hos′pit-a-bl, adj. entertaining strangers and guests kindly and without reward: showing kindness: generous: bountiful.—n. Hos′pitableness.—adv. Hos′pitably.—n. Hospital′ity, the practice of one who is hospitable; friendly welcome and entertainment of guests—(Spens.) Hos′pitāge.
Hospital, hos-′pit-al, n. a building for the reception and treatment of the old, the sick, and hurt, &c., or for the support and education of the young.—n. Hos′pitaller, one of a charitable brotherhood for the care of the sick in hospitals: one of an order of knights, commonly called Knights of St John (otherwise called Knights of Rhodes, and afterwards of Malta), who about 1048 built a hospital for the care and cure of pilgrims at Jerusalem.—Hospital Saturday, or Sunday, days set apart for the collection of funds on behalf of hospitals.—Convalescent hospital, one intermediate between the ordinary hospital and the patient's own home; Cottage hospital, a small establishment where hospital treatment is carried on at little expense and with simple arrangements; Lock hospital, one for the treatment of venereal diseases; Magdalen hospital, an institution for the reclamation of fallen women; Marine, or Naval, hospital, a special hospital for sick sailors, or for men in the naval service; Maternity hospital, one for women in labour. [O. Fr. hospital—Low L. hospitale—hospes, a guest.]
Hospodar, hos′po-där, n. formerly the title of the princes of Moldavia and Wallachia. [Slav.]
Hoss, a vulgarism for horse.
Host, hōst, n. one who entertains a stranger or guest at his house without reward: an innkeeper: an organism on which another lives as a parasite:—fem. Host′ess.—n. Host′ess-ship (Shak.), the character or office of a hostess.—adj. Host′less (Spens.), destitute of a host, inhospitable.—Reckon, or Count, without one's host, to misjudge, the original idea being that of totting up one's bill without reference to the landlord. [O. Fr. hoste—L. hospes, hospitis.]
Host, hōst, n. an army, a large multitude.—n. Host′ing, (Milt.) an encounter of hosts, a battle: (Spens.) an assemblage of hosts, a muster.—A host in himself, one of great strength, skill, or resources, within himself; Heavenly host, the angels and archangels; Lord of hosts, a favourite Hebrew term for Jehovah, considered as head of the hosts of angels, the hosts of stars, &c. [O. Fr. host—L. hostis, an enemy.]