Definition of the word parasitic

The word "parasitic" has its roots in Greek. The Greek word "parasitos" (παρασιτος) means "one who eats at table with another," and was often used to describe a person who was a guest or a boarder in someone's home. In a broader sense, it referred to someone who was dependent on others for support or sustenance. In the 17th century, the word "parasitic" was borrowed into Latin as "parasiticus," which referred to something that was dependent or parasitic. The term was later adopted into English in the 17th century to describe plants, animals, or organisms that live off another organism for food or shelter, rather than producing their own food. In modern English, the word "parasitic" is commonly used to describe a wide range of phenomena, from organisms that live on or in other organisms, to behaviors or relationships that are exploitative or dependent on others.