Etymology Map
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Parasite

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means an organism living off another

Where does the word "parasite" come from? It comes from Greek parasitos, passing through French before entering English (1530s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
parasitos
Greek · ancient
"one who eats at another's table"
Greek, 'para', beside, plus 'sitos', food
2
Stage 2 of 3
parasite
French · 1500s
"hanger-on"
a flatterer who dines at others' expense
3
Stage 3 of 3
parasite
English · 1530s
"hanger-on"
the biological sense dates from the 1700s
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Read the full story

Parasite’s story begins in Greek: parasitos meant “one who eats at another's table.” Greek, 'para', beside, plus 'sitos', food. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as parasite. A flatterer who dines at others' expense. It reached English by 1530s as parasite. The biological sense dates from the 1700s. Today, parasite means an organism living off another.