Words of Dead Worlds: Guest and Host

The words “guest” and “host” are two sides of the same coin — they’re related concepts but they have opposite meanings. Strangely, they are both descended from the same proto-indo-european root: ghosti, which meant “stranger” and became associated with the common rules of behavior in regards to the treatment of strangers, where one could either be the guest or host. Sadly, the word “guest” has nothing to do with the word “ghost”, which would have been really cool and was the original reason I was looking up “guest” in the first place.

– A few thoughts from your friend Saxo