Tag Archives: word hospital origin

The origins of the word “hospital”

Simon Wein Petach Tikvah, Israel   According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word “hospital” is derived from the Old French “ospital,” meaning hostel, shelter, lodging, or shelter for the needy. The origin can be traced to the Latin “hospitale” and persists in the modern French “hôpital.” The OED states further: The sense of “charitable […]