Part 906

Host, n. [OE. host, ost, OF. hoste, oste, F. hÙte, from L. hospes a stranger who is treated as a guest, he who treats another as his guest, a hostl prob. fr. hostis stranger, enemy (akin to E. guest a visitor) + potis able; akin to Skr. pati master, lord. See Host an army, Possible, and cf. Hospitable, Hotel.] One who receives or entertains another, whether gratuitously or for compensation; one from whom another receives food, lodging, or entertainment; a landlord. Chaucer. "Fair host and Earl." Tennyson.

Time is like a fashionable host, That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand.

Shak.

Host, v. t. To give entertainment to. [Obs.] Spenser.

Host, v. i. To lodge at an inn; to take up entertainment. [Obs.] "Where you shall host." Shak.

Hos"tage (?), n. [OE. hostage, OF. hostage, ostage, F. Ùtage, LL. hostaticus, ostaticum, for hospitaticum, fr. L. hospes guest, host. The first meaning is, the state of a guest, hospitality; hence, the state of a hostage (treated as a guest); and both these meanings occur in Old French. See Host a landlord.] A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on the performance of which the person is to be released.

Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight.

Shak.

He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune.

Bacon.

Hos"tel (?), n. [OE. hostel, ostel, OF. hostel, ostel, LL. hospitale, hospitalis, fr. L. hospitalis. See Hospital, and cf. Hotel.] 1. An inn. [Archaic] Poe.

So pass I hostel, hall, and grange.

Tennyson.

2. A small, unendowed college in Oxford or Cambridge. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Hos"tel*er (?), n. [See Hostel, and cf. Hostler.] 1. The keeper of a hostel or inn.

2. A student in a hostel, or small unendowed collede in Oxford or Cambridge. [Obs.] Fuller.

Hos"tel*ry (?), n. [OE. hostelrie, hostelrye, ostelrie, OF. hostelerie, fr. hostel. See Hostel.] An inn; a lodging house. [Archaic] Chaucer. "Homely brought up in a rude hostelry." B. Jonson.

Come with me to the hostelry.

Longfellow.

Host"ess (?), n. [OE. hostesse, ostesse. See Host a landlord.] 1. A female host; a woman who hospitably entertains guests at her house. Shak.

2. A woman who entertains guests for compensation; a female innkeeper. Shak.

Host"ess-ship, n. The character, personality, or office of a hostess. Shak.

Hos"tie (?), n. [F. See 1st Host.] The consecrated wafer; the host. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

Hos"tile (?), a. [L. hostilis, from hostis enemy: cf. F. hostile. See Host an army.] Belonging or appropriate to an enemy; showing the disposition of an enemy; showing ill will and malevolence, or a desire to thwart and injure; occupied by an enemy or enemies; inimical; unfriendly; as, a hostile force; hostile intentions; a hostile country; hostile to a sudden change.

Syn. -- Warlike; inimical; unfriendly; antagonistic; opposed; adverse; opposite; contrary; repugnant.

Hos"tile, n. An enemy; esp., an American Indian in arms against the whites; -- commonly in the plural. [Colloq.] P. H. Sheridan.

Hos"tile*ly, adv. In a hostile manner.

Hos*til"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Hostilities (#). [L. hostilitas: cf. F. hostilitÈ.] 1. State of being hostile; public or private enemy; unfriendliness; animosity.