Parasite (Gr. from para, 'beside,' sitos, 'food'; one who eats with another; hence one who eats at the expense of another), a common character in the Greek comedies; a low fellow, who is ready to submit to any indignity that he may be permitted to partake of a banquet, and who lives as much as possible at the expense of others.
Parasite
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 7: Maltebrun to Pearson, p. 754
Source scan(s): p. 0769