2. A building in which the sick, injured, or infirm are received and treated; a public or private institution founded for reception and cure, or for the refuge, of persons diseased in body or mind, or disabled, infirm, or dependent, and in which they are treated either at their own expense, or more often by charity in whole or in part; a tent, building, or other place where the sick or wounded of an army cared for. Hospital ship, a vessel fitted up for a floating hospital. — Hospital Sunday, a Sunday set apart for simultaneous contribution in churches to hospitals; as, the London Hospital Sunday.
HOSPITAL
Hos"pi*tal, a. Etym: [L. hospitalis: cf. OF. hospital.]
Defn: Hospitable. [Obs.] Howell.
HOSPITALER
Hos"pi*tal*er, n. [Written also hospitaller.] Etym: [F. hospitalier.
See Hospital, and cf. Hostler.]
1. One residing in a hospital, for the purpose of receiving the poor, the sick, and strangers.
2. One of an order of knights who built a hospital at Jerusalem for pilgrims, A. D. 1042. They were called Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and after the removal of the order to Malta, Knights of Malta.
HOSPITALISM
Hos"pi*tal*ism, n. (Med.)
Defn: A vitiated condition of the body, due to long confinement in a hospital, or the morbid condition of the atmosphere of a hospital.
HOSPITALITY
Hos`pi*tal"i*ty, n.; pl. Hospitalities. Etym: [L. hospitalitas: cf.
F. hospitalité.]
Defn: The act or practice of one who is hospitable; reception and entertainment of strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality. Given to hospitality. Rom. xii. 13. And little recks to find the way to heaven By doing deeds of hospitality. Shak.