hotel English · revision 3143

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1640s|origins=la hospes}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /həʊˈtel/, US /hoʊˈtel/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|hôtel|t=a mansion, palace, large house]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) the later form of Old French ostel, hostel “a lodging”,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-med|hospitāle|t=inn]],^(Barnhart 1988) from Latin hospes, the source of [[hospital]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline) The older French form was borrowed in the Middle Ages as [[hostel]],^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988) and ''hospital'' is a doublet of the same word.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A public official residence, or a large private residence: the 1640s,^(Etymonline) 1677 in Merriam-Webster;^(MWU 2024) for its first century the word was used only in French phrases and of the town mansions of French aristocrats.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In 1748 ''hotel'' was also used of a student residence at a university, a sense now obsolete.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The modern sense, an inn of the better sort that provides lodging and meals for paying guests, is from 1765, first in Smollett's ''Travels Through France and Italy'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and has prevailed since the mid-18th century.^(Cresswell 2021) Meanwhile ''hostel'' became restricted to lodgings for particular groups, such as students or migrant workers.^(Cresswell 2021) French uses survive in phrases such as ''hôtel-Dieu'', “a hospital” (1644), and ''hôtel particulier'', “a town mansion”.^(OED 1989) The verb, “to stay at a hotel”, is from 1883,^(OED 1989) and ''hotelier'' is from 1905.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Hotel'' is also the communications code word for the letter H, from 1952.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1640s – a large residence.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1644 – ''hôtel-Dieu'', a hospital.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1748 – a university hostel.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1765 – an inn for travellers.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1883 – verb, to lodge at a hotel.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1905 – ''hotelier''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1952 – code word for H.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A business that provides [[lodging]] and usually meals and other services for travellers and other paying guests.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(France)'' A large town house or mansion; an official building.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(Australia, New Zealand)'' A [[pub]].^(NODE 1998)

+ # A [[code]] word for the letter H in radio communication.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hoteldom]]

+ * [[hotelless]]

+ * [[boatel]]

+ * [[botel]]

+ * [[floatel]]

+ * [[hotelkeeper]]

+ * [[hotelman]]

+ * [[motel]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hostel]]

+ * [[hospital]]

+ * [[host]]

+ * [[hospitality]]

+ * [[hostler]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Britain the word was formerly pronounced with a silent h, which led to the form ''an hotel''.^(Roach et al. 2011)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}