Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HOS'PI-TA-BLE, a. [L. hospitalis, from hospes, a guest; It. ospitale and ospitabile. Hospes, is from the Celtic; W. osb, a stranger or wanderer, a guest; Arm. osb, osp, hospyd. See Host.]

1. Receiving and entertaining strangers with kindness and without reward; kind to strangers and guests; disposed to treat guests with generous kindness; as, a hospitable man.
2. Proceeding from or indicating kindness to guests; manifesting generosity; as, a hospitable table; hospitable rites. Dryden.
3. Inviting to strangers; offering kind reception; indicating hospitality. To where yon taper cheers the vale, / With hospitable ray. Goldsmith.