hospital

[hobsonbear]

what is the greek origin (if any) of the word 'hospital'?

[Hippy]

Our word comes via Middle English and Middle French, from the Medieval Latin hospitale hospice, meaning guest house, from neuter of Latin hospitalis of a guest, from hospit-, hospes.

The earliest known institutions aiming to provide cures were Egyptian temples. Greek temples dedicated to the healer-god Asclepius allowed sick people to seek guidance from the god. The Romans pinched this idea, and under his Roman name �sculapius, he was provided with a temple (291 B.C.) on a island in the Tiber in Rome, where similar rites were performed.

The Romans created valetudinaria for the care of sick slaves, gladiators and soldiers around 100 B.C.