Hypertext Webster Gateway: "parasitic"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Parasitic \Par`a*sit"ic\, Parasitical \Par`a*sit"ic*al\, a. [L.
parasiticus, Gr. ?: cf. F. parasitique.]
1. Of the nature of a parasite; fawning for food or favors;
sycophantic. ``Parasitic preachers.'' --Milton.
2. (Bot. & Zo["o]l.) Of or pertaining to parasites; living
on, or deriving nourishment from, some other living animal
or plant. See {Parasite}, 2 & 3.
{Parasitic gull}, {Parasitic jager}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Jager}.
-- {Par`a*sit"ic*al*ly}, adv. -- {Par`a*sit"ic*al*ness},
n.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
parasitic
adj : of plants or persons; having the nature or habits of a
parasite or leech; living off another; "a wealthy class
parasitic upon the labor of the masses"; "parasitic
vines that strangle the trees"; "bloodsucking
blackmailer"; "his indolent leechlike existence" [syn:
{parasitical}, {leechlike}, {bloodsucking}]
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