Hostess

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈhoʊstɪs/

Definitions

1. A woman who receives and entertains guests in a social setting ; a female employee who greets, serves, or assists customers at a restaurant, club, or event
2. One who acts as a social organizer or welcoming figure in private or public gatherings ; a woman responsible for attending to visitors or patrons in places like eateries or airline lounges
3. A female host who arranges or facilitates social interactions and hospitality ; a worker who helps direct or provide service to guests at various venues

Etymology: The feminine ending in "hostess" is older than the word itself. Old French had "oste" for "host," and the suffix "-esce" was attached to mark a woman doing the same job, so "ostesce" meant a female host. The form passed into Middle French as "hostesse" and then into Middle English as "hostesse," keeping the feminine marker intact through each step. The base word "host" came into English earlier and carried a wider range of meanings, including a person who receives or lodges travelers and, in some contexts, a host of soldiers or an army. The feminine version kept the sense of someone who receives guests and provides hospitality, so the term has always centred on the act of welcoming people into one's home or establishment. The suffix itself is a plain grammatical device, which makes the word a clear example of how English and French once formed gendered nouns by adding endings to a masculine base.

Synonyms: host, welcomer, entertainer, moderator, proprietor

Antonyms: guest, invited, stranger, interloper, outsider