parasiet

From Dutch parasiet, from Middle French parasite, from Latin parasitus, from Ancient Greek παράσιτος (parásitos).

parasiet (plural parasiete)

1. parasite

Borrowed from Middle French parasite, from Latin parasitus, from Ancient Greek παράσιτος (parásitos). First attested in the 16th century. The sense “parasitic organism” is a semantic loan from French parasite.

• IPA^(key): /ˌpaː.raːˈsit/

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• Hyphenation: pa‧ra‧siet
• Rhymes: -it

parasiet m (plural parasieten, diminutive parasietje n)

1. (biology) parasite (parasitic organism) [from 19th c.]

   Luizen, vlooien en andere vampiers zijn bloedergerlijke parasieten.

   Lice, flees and other vampires are bloody annoying parasites.

2. (figuratively, derogatory) parasite, someone who relies on others to get things done. [from 16th c.]

   Synonym: tafelschuimer

• wondparasiet
• zwakteparasiet

• parasitair
• parasiteren
• parasitologie

• Afrikaans: parasiet