Par`a*sche*mat"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; to change from the true form.] Of or
pertaining to a change from the right form, as in the formation of a
word from another by a change of termination, gender, etc. Max M¸ller.
||Par`a*se*le"ne (?), n.; pl. ParaselenÊ (#). [NL., from Gr. para`
||beside + &?; the moon: cf. F. parasÈlËne.] (Meteor.) A mock moon; an
||image of the moon which sometimes appears at the point of
||intersection of two lunar halos. Cf. Parhelion.
||Par`a*si"ta (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) (a) An artificial group
||formerly made for parasitic insects, as lice, ticks, mites, etc. (b)
||A division of copepod Crustacea, having a sucking mouth, as the
||lerneans. They are mostly parasites on fishes. Called also
||Siphonostomata.
<! p. 1042 !>
Par"a*si`tal (?), a. (Bot. & Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to parasites;
parasitic.
Par"a*site (?), n. [F., fr. L. parasitus, Gr. &?;, lit., eating beside,
or at the table of, another; para` beside + &?; to feed, from &?;
wheat, grain, food.]
1. One who frequents the tables of the rich, or who lives at another's
expense, and earns his welcome by flattery; a hanger-on; a toady; a
sycophant.
Thou, with trembling fear, Or like a fawning parasite, obey'st.
Milton.
Parasites were called such smell-feasts as would seek to be free
guests at rich men's tables.
Udall.
2. (Bot.) (a) A plant obtaining nourishment immediately from other
plants to which it attaches itself, and whose juices it absorbs; --
sometimes, but erroneously, called epiphyte. (b) A plant living on or
within an animal, and supported at its expense, as many species of
fungi of the genus Torrubia.
3. (Zoˆl.) (a) An animal which lives during the whole or part of its
existence on or in the body of some other animal, feeding upon its
food, blood, or tissues, as lice, tapeworms, etc. (b) An animal which
steals the food of another, as the parasitic jager. (c) An animal which
habitually uses the nest of another, as the cowbird and the European
cuckoo.
{ Par`a*sit"ic (?), 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. & Zoˆl.) 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. (Zoˆl.) See Jager.
-- Par`a*sit"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Par`a*sit"ic*al*ness, n.
Par`a*sit"i*cide (?), n. [Parasite + L. caedere to kill.] Anything used
to destroy parasites. Quain.