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hostess

hostess

115 1.5
A woman who welcomes and entertains guests at a party or home
  • noun
  • /ˈhoʊstəs/
translation icon : anfitriona
  • She'd have a reputation as an elegant hostess in no time at all.
  • a hostess serving drinks
  • a social hostess

I am your Hostess with the mostest tradition.

Examples

  • - Our hostess for the evening.

  • I'll be your hostess this evening.

  • I was a hostess at a restaurant.

  • You were a wonderful hostess, and thank you for the talks...

  • Our hostess, Amy, will introduce you and you can interact with her however you want.

  • You're a very good hostess, Sparrow.

  • Saying their goodbyes and thanking their hostess, Marissa suddenly had an idea.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Kate, the lovely and gracious hostess, mingles and greets her many guests, not noticing Dade or Phreak.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • As the hostess of the dinner party, she ensured that all the guests felt welcome and comfortable.

  • The hostess greeted each attendee warmly as they arrived at the event.

Synonyms

hoster
vshostess
  • Archaic
7.0

A person who welcomes and looks after guests at a party or inn

refers specifically to a woman rather than any person
banqueter
vshostess
6.3

A person who hosts a large formal meal for many guests

refers to a woman who entertains in varied settings not only formal meals

Antonyms

1.0

A person invited to someone's home, hotel, restaurant, or event

Idioms

1 8.2

A woman who is very good at hosting parties and making guests feel welcome

Compounds

air hostess
  • Archaic
1 2.2

A woman who looks after passengers on a plane

1 8.4

A bar where women talk with and serve drinks to customers

How Hospitable

hostess with the mostest
  • Informal
1 8.2
hostess
115 1.5
greeter
12 2.8

Surface Forms

hostess singular
hostesses plural

Morphology

hostess = host (transparent) = host + ess

The suffix '-ess' clearly denotes the female form of 'host'.

Etymology

Hostess is the female form of host + -ess, and host comes from an old word meaning 'guest' or 'one who receives people', just like in hospitality, so a hostess is someone who welcomes and looks after guests.