host

Etymology 1

From Middle English hoste, from Old French oste (French: hôte), from Latin hospitem, accusative of hospes (“a host, also a sojourner, visitor, guest; hence, a foreigner, a stranger”), from *hostipotis, an old compound of hostis and the root of potis, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰostipotis (“master of guests”), from *gʰóstis (“stranger, guest, enemy”) and *pótis (“owner, master, host, husband”). Used in English since 13th century. Doublet of guest.

noun

1. One which receives or entertains a guest, socially, commercially, or officially.
   A good host is always considerate of the guest’s needs.
2. One that provides a facility for an event.
3. A person or organization responsible for running an event.
   Our company is host of the annual conference this year.
4. A moderator or master of ceremonies for a performance.
   The host was terrible, but the acts themselves were good.
5. (computing, Internet) Any computer attached to a network.
6. (ecology) A cell or organism which harbors another organism or biological entity, usually a parasite.
   Viruses depend on the host that they infect in order to be able to reproduce.
   A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents. 2013 May-June, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 193
7. (evolution, genetics) An organism bearing certain genetic material, with respect to its cells.
   The so-called junk DNA is known, so far, to provide no apparent benefit to its host.
8. A paid male companion offering conversation and in some cases sex, as in certain types of bar in Japan.

verb

1. To perform the role of a host.
   Our company will host the annual conference this year.
   I was terrible at hosting that show.
   I’ll be hosting tonight. I hope I’m not terrible.
   Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. 2013 May-June, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 193
2. (obsolete, intransitive) To lodge at an inn.
3. (computing, Internet) To run software made available to a remote user or process.
   Kremvax hosts a variety of services.
   CMU/TEK TCP/IP software uses an excessive amount of cpu resources for terminal support both outbound, when accessing another system, and inbound, when the local system is hosting a session. May 7 1987, Selden E. Ball, Jr., “Re: Ethernet Terminal Concentrators”, in comp.protocols.tcp-ip (Usenet)

Etymology 2

From Middle English oost, borrowed from Old French ost, oste, hoste, from Latin hostis (“foreign enemy”) (as opposed to inimicus (“personal enemy”)); cognate with etymology 1 through an Indo-European root.

noun

1. A multitude of people arrayed as an army; used also in religious senses, as: Heavenly host (of angels)
   the invading host that had sailed from Hellas in more than one thousand ships was of an unprecedented size. 2001, Carlos Parada, Hesione 2, Greek Mythology Link
2. A large number of items; a large inventory.
   The dealer stocks a host of parts for my Model A.
   I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; […] 1802, William Wordsworth, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
   A short time since, some friends drinking tea one summer evening at their residence near Maidenhead, with all the windows of the drawing-room open, there suddenly burst in a host of small flies, which covered the table and the furniture […] 1836, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction
   England ran Tunisia ragged in that spell but were punished for missing a host of chances when Ferjani Sassi equalised from the penalty spot against the run of play after Kyle Walker was penalised for an elbow on Fakhreddine Ben Youssef. 18 June 2018, Phil McNulty, “Tunisia 1 – 2 England”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 2019-04-21
   In the immediate term, there is a host of new operating procedures to be developed and to become familiarised with, in accordance with social distancing. July 29 2020, Ian Prosser discusses with Paul Stephen, “Rail needs robust and strategic plans”, in Rail, page 38

Etymology 3

From Middle English host, oist, ost, from Old French hoiste, from Latin hostia (“sacrificial victim”). Doublet of hostie.

noun

1. (Christianity) The consecrated bread of the Eucharist.
   Do you pray to the Holy Ghost when you suck your host? / Do you read who's dead in the Irish Post? 1978, John Lydon (lyrics and music), “Religion II”, performed by Public Image Ltd.