Parasite

n. [Fr. parasite, Sp. parasito, It. parassito, Lat. parasitus, Gr. παράσιτος, literally eating beside, with, or at the table of another, from παρά, beside, and σιτεῖν, to feed, in passive, to be fed, eat, from σῖτος, wheat, corn, food.]

1Sense 1. (Gr. Antiq.) One whose office was to gather from the husbandmen the corn allotted for public sacrifices, and to superintend the sacrifices.

2Sense 2. In later usage, one who dines at another's table; hence, especially, a trencher friend; one who frequents the tables of the rich, and earns his welcome by flattery; a hanger on; a dependent companion and flatterer; a toady.

3Sense 3. (Bot.) A plant obtaining nourishment immediately from other plants to which it attaches itself, and whose juices it absorbs;—sometimes, but erroneously, called epiphyte.

4Sense 4. (Zoöl.) An animal which lives during the whole or part of its existence on the body of some other animal, as lice, &c.

a. [Fr. parasitique, It. parassitico, Lat. parasiticus, Gr. παρασιτικός.]

1Sense 1. Of the nature of a parasite: fawning for bread or favors; fawning; wheedling. “Parasitic preachers.” Milton.

2Sense 2. Living on, or deriving nourishment from, some other living thing; growing upon or within another; as, a parasitic animal or fungus.

The parasitical plant absolutely killed the supporting tree. De Quincey.