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| hos·pice [ hóspiss ] (plural hos·pic·es) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. medicine social welfare nursing home for dying: a usually small residential institution for terminally ill patients where treatment focuses on the patient's well-being rather than a cure and includes drugs for pain management and often spiritual counseling
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2. medicine home care for dying: a program of hospice care for the terminally ill that includes home visits by professionals such as nurses and clergy to provide for the person's physical and emotional needs
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3. refuge for travelers: formerly, a place where pilgrims, travelers, and the homeless or destitute were offered lodging, usually by a religious order
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| [Early 19th century. Via French< Latin hospitium "guesthouse, hospitality" < hospit- "host, guest"] |
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