parasiet

parasiet

Afrikaans

Etymology

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

Noun

parasiet (plural parasiete)

1. parasite

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Dutch

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌpaː.raːˈsit/

• Audio

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

Noun

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

Derived terms

• wondparasiet
• zwakteparasiet

Related terms

• parasitair
• parasiteren
• parasitologie

Descendants

• Afrikaans: parasiet