hos·pi·tal·i·ty

(hŏs′pĭ-tăl′ĭ-tē)

n. pl. hos·pi·tal·i·ties

1. Cordial and generous reception of or disposition toward guests.

2. An instance of cordial and generous treatment of guests.

[Middle English hospitalite, from Old French, from Latin hospitālitās, from hospitālis, of a guest; see hospital.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hospitality

(ˌhɒspɪˈtælɪtɪ)

n, pl -ties

1. kindness in welcoming strangers or guests

2. receptiveness

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

hos•pi•tal•i•ty

(ˌhɒs pɪˈtæl ɪ ti)

n., pl. -ties.

1. the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers; an act or show of welcome.

2. the quality of being hospitable and welcoming to guests or strangers.

[1325–75; Middle English hospitalite < Middle French < Latin hospitālitās=hospitāli(s)]

Hospitality

Giving a party is very much like having a baby; its conception is more fun than its completion —Anon
Hospitable as Welcome Wagoners —Lisa Harris
The hospitality described in Harris’ book, The World of a Hasidic Family, is that of the Lubavitcher women in New York’s Crown Heights section.
A host is like a general: it takes a mishap to reveal his genius —Horace
The service was as slow as the progress of a snail and a good-humored as Rip Van Winkle —O. Henry

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

hospitality - kindness in welcoming guests or strangers

cordial reception

welcome - a greeting or reception; "the proposal got a warm welcome"

inhospitality - unkind and inconsiderate welcome; "he was taken aback by such inhospitality"

hospitality

noun welcome, warmth, kindness, friendliness, sociability, conviviality, neighbourliness, cordiality, heartiness, hospitableness Every visitor is overwhelmed by the hospitality of the people.

Quotations
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" Bible: Hebrews
"hospitality: the virtue which induces us to feed and lodge certain persons who are not in need of food and lodging" [Ambrose Bierce The Devil's Dictionary]
"Welcome the coming, speed the going guest" [Alexander Pope Imitations of Horace]
"When hospitality becomes an art, it loses its very soul" [Max Beerbohm And Even Now]

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

حُسْنُ الضِّيَافَةُكَرَم الضِّيافَه

pohostinnostpohostinství

gæstfrihedbeværtning

Gastfreundschaft Gastfreundlichkeit Gastlichkeit Unwirtlichkeit

φιλοξενία

hospitalidad

vieraanvaraisuus

hospitalité

gostoljubivost

vendéglátás

gestrisni

ospitalità ospitalit...

歓待

환대

gastvrijheid

gjestfrihet servering

gościnność

hospitalidade

хлебосольство гостеприимство

pohostinstvo

gostoljubnost

gästfrihet

การรับรองแขก

konukseverlikmisafirperverlik

lòng hiếu khách

好客殷勤

hospitality

[ˌhɒspɪˈtælɪtɪ]

A. N → hospitalidad f
corporate hospitality → hospitalidad f corporativa

B. CPD hospitality area N → zona f de recepción para invitados importantes
hospitality tent N → carpa f de recepción para invitados importantes

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

hospitality

[ˌhɒspɪˈtælɪti] n

(= welcoming behaviour) → hospitalité f

(provided by a company) → accueil m
lavish hospitality → un accueil somptueuxhospitality industry n → industrie f hôtelière, hôtellerie f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

hospitality

n → Gastfreundschaft f, → Gastlichkeit f; (Comm: = refreshments etc for clients) → Bewirtung f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

hospitality

[ˌhɒspɪˈtælɪtɪ] n → ospitalità

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

hospitable

(həˈspitəbl) adjective

showing kindness to guests. She is one of the most hospitable people I know.

hoˈspitably adverb

hoˈspitableness noun

hospitality (hospiˈtaləti) noun

a friendly welcome for guests or strangers, which often includes offering them food, drink etc.

hospitality

→ حُسْنُ الضِّيَافَةُ pohostinnost gæstfrihed Gastfreundschaft φιλοξενία hospitalidad vieraanvaraisuus hospitalité gostoljubivost ospitalità 歓待 환대 gastvrijheid gjestfrihet gościnność hospitalidade гостеприимство gästfrihet การรับรองแขก konukseverlik lòng hiếu khách 好客

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

- Expedition of M'Dougal and David Stuart- Comcomly, the OneEyed Chieftain.- Influence of Wealth in Savage Life.- Slavery Among the Natives.-An Aristocracy of Flatheads.- Hospitality Among the Chinooks- Comcomly's Daughter.- Her Conquest.

View in context

I could not violate my sense of hospitality by compelling them to endure this hardship.

View in context

"As for you, sir," he cried, "you should at least remember that you are in a strange house and--receiving hospitality; you should not take the opportunity of tormenting an old man, sir, who is too evidently out of his mind."

View in context

The Fox, unable even to taste it, met with a fitting requital, after the fashion of her own hospitality.

View in context

The hospitality of Allworthy; with a short sketch of the characters of two brothers, a doctor and a captain, who were entertained by that gentleman.

View in context

Vernon, which had reached me, in common with the world in general, and gained my entire belief before I saw you, but which you, by the exertion of your perverted abilities, had made me resolved to disallow, have been unanswerably proved to me; nay more, I am assured that a connection, of which I had never before entertained a thought, has for some time existed, and still continues to exist, between you and the man whose family you robbed of its peace in return for the hospitality with which you were received into it; that you have corresponded with him ever since your leaving Langford; not with his wife, but with him, and that he now visits you every day.

View in context

The prince procured for Marie Michon the dress of a cavalier and for Kitty that of a lackey; he sent them two excellent horses, and the fugitives went out hastily from Tours, shaping their course toward Spain, trembling at the least noise, following unfrequented roads, and asking for hospitality when they found themselves where there was no inn."

View in context

But in that gale, the port, the land, is that ship's direst jeopardy; she must fly all hospitality; one touch of land, though it but graze the keel, would make her shudder through and through.

View in context

He appeals to the world-famed hospitality of Athens and hints at the blessings that his coming will confer on the State.

View in context

To this order I belong, brother goatherds, to whom I return thanks for the hospitality and kindly welcome ye offer me and my squire; for though by natural law all living are bound to show favour to knights-errant, yet, seeing that without knowing this obligation ye have welcomed and feasted me, it is right that with all the good-will in my power I should thank you for yours."

View in context

``I asked you, my children,'' said the Prior, raising his voice, and using the lingua Franca, or mixed language, in which the Norman and Saxon races conversed with each other, ``if there be in this neighbourhood any good man, who, for the love of God, and devotion to Mother Church, will give two of her humblest servants, with their train, a night's hospitality and refreshment?''

View in context

The peddler with his pack traversed the country by all manner of lonely roads, and was compelled to rely upon the country people for hospitality. This brought him into relation with queer characters, some of whom were not altogether scrupulous in their methods of making a living, murder being an acceptable means to that end.

View in context