| Hospital
Written by Golda
(1/28/2006 10:56 a.m.)
in consequence of the missive, Ch.3: Changing meanings of words, penned by Line
From a source that I cannot remember, I learned that the "original" hospitals were stopping points for travelers on the crusades to rest and recover. Travelers could spend time at a hospital before continuing on their journey. Thus, from hospital was derived hospitality, which is the term today for the food, hotel and tourism industry. It is also a way of describing how generously, or not, one treats one's guests.
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