King James Bible Dictionary

An entertainer (Romans 16:23); a tavern-keeper, the keeper of a caravansary (Luke 10:35).

In warfare, a troop or military force. This consisted at first only of infantry. Solomon afterwards added cavalry (1 Kings 4:26; 10:26). Every male Israelite from twenty to fifty years of age was bound by the law to bear arms when necessary (Numbers 1:3; 26:2; 2 Chronicles 25:5).

Saul was the first to form a standing army (1 Samuel 13:2; 24:2). This example was followed by David (1 Chronicles 27:1), and Solomon (1 Kings 4:26), and by the kings of Israel and Judah (2 Chronicles 17:14; 26:11; 2 Kings 11:4, etc.).

HOST, noun [Latin hostis, a stranger, an enemy, probably of the same family. See Hospitable.]

1. One who entertains another at his own house, without reward.

Homer never entertained guests or hosts with long speeches.

2. One who entertains another at his house for reward; an innkeeper; a landlord.

3. A guest; one who is entertained at the house of another. The innkeeper says of the traveler, he has a good host and the traveler says of his landlord, he has a kind host [See Guest.]

HOST, noun [Latin hostis, a stranger, an enemy.] The sense is probably transferred from a single foe to an army of foes.]

1. An army; a number of men embodied for war.

2. Any great number or multitude.

HOST, noun [Latin hostia, a victim or sacrifice, from hostis, an enemy.]

In the Romish church, the sacrifice of the mass, or the consecrated wafer, representing the body of Christ, or as the Catholics allege, transubstantiated into his own body.

HOST, verb intransitive To lodge at an inn; to take up entertainment. [Little used.]

HOST, verb transitive To give entertainment to. [Not used.]

The sun, moon, and stars are so designated (Genesis 2:1). When the Jews fell into idolatry they worshipped these (Deuteronomy 4:19; 2 Kings 17:16; 21:3, 5; 23:5; Jeremiah 19:13; Zephaniah 1:5; Acts 7:42).

A person delivered into the hands of another as a security for the performance of some promise, etc. (2 Kings 14:14; 2 Chronicles 25:24).

2 Kings 14:14
2 Chronicles 25:24

HOS'TAGE, noun A person delivered to an enemy or hostile power, as a pledge to secure the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, and on the performance of which the person is to be released.

HOSTEL, HOSTELLER. [See Hotel.]

HOSTEL, HOSTELLER [See Hotel.]

HOSTESS, noun A female host; a woman who entertains guests at her house.

1. A woman who keeps an inn.

HOSTESS-SHIP, noun The character or business of a hostess.

HOS'TILE, adjective [Latin hostilis, from hostis, an enemy, that is, a foreigner.]

1. Belonging to a public enemy; designating enmity, particularly public enmity, or a state of war; inimical; as a hostile band or army; a hostile force; hostile intentions.

2. Possessed by a public enemy; as a hostile country.

3. Adverse; opposite; unfriendly. [But the word is not properly applied to private enmity, or mere unfriendliness.]

HOS'TILELY, adverb In a hostile manner.

HOSTIL'ITY, noun [Latin hostilitas, from hostis, an enemy.]

1. The state of war between nations or states; the actions of an open enemy; aggression; attacks of an enemy. These secret enmities broke out in hostilities.

Hostility being thus suspended with France.

We have carried on even our hostilities with humanity.

2. Private enmity; a sense less proper.

HOS'TILIZE, verb transitive To make an enemy. [Little used.]

HOSTING, noun [from host, an army.]

An encounter; a battle. [Little used.]

1. A muster or review.

HOS'TLER, noun hos'ler. The person who has the care of horses at an inn.

HOSTLESS, adjective Inhospitable. [Not in use.]

HOSTRY, adjective A stable for horses.

1. A lodging house.