WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Hosea
    n 1: a minor Hebrew prophet (8th century BC)
    2: an Old Testament book telling Hosea's prophecies [syn:
       Hosea, Book of Hosea]

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:

Hosea
   salvation, the son of Beeri, and author of the book of
   prophecies bearing his name. He belonged to the kingdom of
   Israel. "His Israelitish origin is attested by the peculiar,
   rough, Aramaizing diction, pointing to the northern part of
   Palestine; by the intimate acquaintance he evinces with the
   localities of Ephraim (5:1; 6:8, 9; 12:12; 14:6, etc.); by
   passages like 1:2, where the kingdom is styled 'the land', and
   7:5, where the Israelitish king is designated as 'our' king."
   The period of his ministry (extending to some sixty years) is
   indicated in the superscription (Hos. 1:1, 2). He is the only
   prophet of Israel who has left any written prophecy.


Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's):

Hosea, Hoshea, savior; safety