What is another word for imaret?
Pronunciation: [ɪmˈaɹət] (IPA) 
Imaret refers to a charitable institution that was established during the Ottoman Empire to provide free food and lodging to the poor and travelers. The term imaret has no synonyms in English but there are other similar institutions such as caravanserais, khans, and hospices that provided a similar function for the travelers. These words may have similar connotations to imaret, but each of these terms has a slight variation in their meaning. Caravanserais were inns that catered to long-distance travelers whereas khans were commercial lodgings for traders and merchants. The term hospice is closest to imaret in function, meaning a charitable institution that provides care and lodging for the destitute, needy, or sick.
