*ghosti-, the root of both “guest” and “host”

*Ghos-ti- derivation

From The American Heritage College Dictionary, the Proto-Indo-European appendix:

ghos-ti- Stranger, guest, host; properly “someone with whom one has reciprocal duties of hospitality.” 1. Basic for *ghos-ti-. a. (i) GUEST, from Old Norse gestr, guest; (ii) GASTARBEITER, from Old High German gast, guest. Both (i) and (ii) from Germanic *gastiz; b. HOST2, HOSTILE, from Latin hostis, enemy (< “stranger”). 2. Compound *ghos-pot-, *ghos-po(d)- “guest-master,” one who symbolizes the relationship of reciprocal obligation (*pot-, master; see poti-). HOSPICE, HOSPITABLE, HOSPITAL, HOSPITALITY, HOST1, HOSTAGE, HOSTEL, HOSTLER, from Latin hospes (stem hospit-), host, guest, stranger. 3. Suffixed zero-grade form *ghs-en-wo-. XENIA, EXNO-, XENON; AXENIC, PROXENE, from Greek xenos, guest, host, stranger. [Pokorny ghosti-s 453.]

Share:

Latest Posts

An antlered, bearded head with torcs hanging from the antlers, text "ERNVNNO" at top

The Nautes Pillar (Pillar of the Boatmen)

An examination of the Nautes Pillar, also called the Pillar of the Boatmen, in the Musée de Cluny in Paris, with photos of all faces of the pillar, a video walkthrough, and details on the history of the pillar as we know it. Includes a discussion of the Cernunnos, Esus, and Tarvos Trigaranus faces, and the dedication.

Crane Chatter Header

Crane Chatter for Imbolc

While we work on getting these Crane Chatter issues onto the Three Cranes Grove, ADF, website, I need a place to host them, so this

Scroll to Top