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parasitic

[par-uh-sit-ik]
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adjective
  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of parasites.
  2. (of diseases) due to parasites.
  3. Phonetics. excrescent(def 2).
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Sometimes par·a·sit·i·cal.

Origin of parasitic

1620–30; < Latin parasīticus < Greek parasītikós. See parasite, -ic
Related formspar·a·sit·i·cal·ly, adverbpar·a·sit·i·cal·ness, nounan·ti·par·a·sit·ic, noun, adjectivean·ti·par·a·sit·i·cal, adjectivean·ti·par·a·sit·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·par·a·sit·ic, adjectivenon·par·a·sit·i·cal, adjectivenon·par·a·sit·i·cal·ly, adverbpseu·do·par·a·sit·ic, adjectiveun·par·a·sit·ic, adjectiveun·par·a·sit·i·cal, adjectiveun·par·a·sit·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for parasitical

Historical Examples

  • That is intensely curious about the parasitical plant of Borneo.

    Hortus Inclusus

    John Ruskin

  • Pope, it must be remembered, is essentially a parasitical writer.

  • Scarcely is the sun risen when we are plagued by the parasitical and inquisitive mob.

  • Are you not ashamed to crowd around a table, like parasitical dogs?

  • Because the mistletoe is a parasitical plant, growing upon the bark of other trees.

Word Origin and History for parasitical

parasitic

adj.

1620s, from Latin parasiticus, from Greek parasitikos "of or pertaining to a parasite; the trade of a parasite," from parasitos (see parasite). Biological sense is from 1731. Related: Parasitical, 1570s in reference to toadies; from 1640s in the biological sense.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
parasitical in Medicine

parasitic

(păr′ə-sĭt′ĭk)
adj.
  1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a parasite.
  2. Caused by a parasite.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.