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Added 8 October 2026

host

/həʊst/ noun

In Latin: hospes, hospita Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about host at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

One which receives or entertains a guest, socially, commercially, or officially.
A good host is always considerate of the guest’s needs.
One that provides a facility for an event.
A person or organization responsible for running an event.
Our company is host of the annual conference this year.

verb

To perform the role of a host.
Our company will host the annual conference this year.
To lodge at an inn.
To run software made available to a remote user or process.
Kremvax hosts a variety of services.

noun

A multitude of people arrayed as an army; used also in religious senses, as: Heavenly host (of angels)
A large number of items; a large inventory.
The dealer stocks a host of parts for my Model A.

noun

The consecrated bread of the Eucharist.

Origin

From Middle English hoste, from Old French oste (French: hôte), from Latin hospitem, accusative of hospes (“a host, also a sojourner, visitor, guest; hence, a foreigner, a stranger”), from *hostipotis, an old compound of hostis and the root of potis, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰóstipotis (“master of guests”), from *gʰóstis (“stranger, guest, enemy”) and *pótis (“owner, master, host, husband”). Used in English since 13th century.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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