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hos·pi·ta·ble

(hŏspĭ-tə-bəl, hŏ-spĭtə-bəl)

adj.

1. Disposed to treat guests with warmth and generosity.

2. Indicative of cordiality toward guests: a hospitable act.

3. Having an open mind; receptive: hospitable to new ideas.

4. Favorable to growth and development; agreeable: a hospitable environment.

[Obsolete French, from Medieval Latin *hospitābilis, from Latin hospitāre, to put up as a guest, from hospes, hospit-, guest, host; see ghos-ti- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

hospi·ta·bly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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