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n. 1. Biology An organism that lives and feeds on or in an organism of a different species and causes harm to its host. 2. a. One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return. b. One who lives off and flatters the rich; a sycophant. 3. A professional dinner guest, especially in ancient Greece. [Latin parasītus, a person who lives by amusing the rich, from Greek parasītos, person who eats at someone else's table, parasite : para-, beside; see PARA-1 + sītos, grain, food.] |
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