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n. 1. a. A facility that provides emergency, inpatient, and usually outpatient medical care for sick or injured people. b. A facility that provides veterinary care for sick or injured animals. 2. Chiefly British A charitable institution, such as an orphanage or a home for the elderly. 3. A repair shop for specified items: a doll hospital. 4. Archaic A hospice for travelers or pilgrims. [Middle English, hospice, from Old French ospital, from Medieval Latin hospitāle, from neuter of Latin hospitālis, of a guest, from hospes, hospit-, guest; see ghos-ti- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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