parasitic 
When the angular width of the conductor on the arma- 
ture is considerable, it is necessary to adopt measures for 
the prevention of parasitic currents. 
Electric Rev. (Eng.), XXVI. 118. 
Parasitic plants those plants which grow upon the liv- 
ing parts of other plants, from whose juices they derive 
their nutriment, a circumstance by which they are imme- 
diately distinguished from false parasites, or tpiphytst, 
which merely fix or support themselves upon other plants 
without deriving food from them. The mistletoe is a 
familiar example of a true parasite. Parasitic plants are 
very numerous, and belong to various divisions of the 
vegetable kingdom. See parasitism of fungi upon algffi, 
under Lichencs; of fungi upon phanerogams, under hosts, 
and heteraxixm. See also obligate parasite (under parasite), 
facultatice parasite and facultative saprophyte (under fac- 
ultative). Parasitic twin, in teratol. See autosite. 
Farasitica (par-a-sit'i-ka), . pi. [NL., neut. 
pi. of L. parasiiicus, parasitic : see parasitic.'} 
1. The Parasita as a group of hemipterous in- 
sects ; the true lice, of the families Pediculidie 
and Polyctenidse. 2. A series or subsection of 
hymenopterous insects, comprising the Cynipi- 
dee, Evaniidse, Ichneumonidse, Braconidee, Chal- 
cididee, and Proctotrupidie. It corresponds nearly 
with Latreille's subsection Entomophaya, but the latter 
also included the Chrysididee. Bartiy, 1837. 
parasitical (par-a-sit'i-kal), a. [< parasitic + 
-al.~] Same as parasitic. 
I shall spend no more waste paper to refute this palpa- 
ble errour, so confidently asserted by parasitical court di- 
rectoVs. Prynne, Treachery and Disloyalty, iv. 129. 
parasitically (par-a-sit'i-kal-i), adv. In the 
manner of a parasite, (a) In a nattering or wheedling 
manner ; by dependence on another. Sir T. Herbert, Trav- 
els, p. 177. (6) In, on, or at the expense of another : as, to 
live parasiticaUy. 
They [Myxm>,yceten] grow parasiticaUy upon decayed 
wood, bark, heaps of decaying leaves, tan-beds, etc. 
W. B. Carpenter, Micros., 322. 
parasiticalness (par-a-sit'i-kal-nes), n. The 
character of being parasitical. Bailey, 1727. 
[Rare.] 
parasiticidal (par-a-sit'i-si-dal), . [< para- 
siticide + -al.~\ Pertaining to or of the nature 
of a parasiticide. 
Any parasiticidal influence. Science, X. 41. 
parasiticide (par-a-sit'i-sid), n. and a. [= F. 
parasiticide, < L. parasitus, parasite, + -cida, < 
csedere, kill.] I. n. That which destroys para- 
sites ; any agent or material means of killing 
parasites, as an insecticide, a vermifuge, etc. 
The destruction of the parasite within the intestinal canal 
by any of the parasiticides which are found to destroy it 
outside of the body appears impracticable. 
New York Med. Jour., XL. 454. 
II. a. Parasiticidal; destructive to parasites, 
parasitism (par'a-si-tizm), n. [= F. parasitisms 
= Pg. parasitismo ; as parasite + -ism.'} 1. A 
habitual living on or at the expense of another ; 
parasitic condition, tendency, or habits ; a state 
of dependency on the favor or good offices of 
another. 
Their high notion, we rather believe, falls as low as 
court parasitism, supposing all men to be servants but 
the king. Milton, Articles of Peace with the Irish. 
The southern Irish nature, by the luxuriance of its fail- 
ings, becomes a ready prey and a docile victim of a social 
and political parasitism that tends to eat all manliness out 
of the character. Fortniyhtly Rev.,y. S., XL. 208. 
The American cuckoo is neither in his note nor in his 
tendency to parasitism as striking a bird as his foreign 
cousin. The American, VIII. 288. 
Specifically 2. In zool. and bot., the vital rela- 
tion which a parasite bears to its host ; parasitic 
infestation. It is a remarkable fact in biology that 
parasitism infallibly entails retrograde metamorphosis, de- 
generation, or degradation of the type of structure which 
would be normal to the organism were it not parasitic. 
Thus, parasitic members of groups of insects which are 
normally winged lose their wings and suffer other modifi- 
cations of structure. Among crustaceans parasitism re- 
sults in the most grotesque shapes imaginable mere 
caricatures, as it were. Mouth-parts, limbs, and other 
appendages are usually reduced to mere suckers, hooks, 
or other devices for holding to the host, or even to pro- 
cesses like rootlets of plants, deeply penetrating the sub- 
stance of the host. In many parasites of comparatively 
high organization, as tapeworms, there is no proper diges- 
tive system, nor any alimentary canal, the creature being 
nourished by soaking in the juices of its host. Hence, 
morphological characters resulting from parasitic adap- 
tation are essentially degradational, or vestigial, and have 
not, or should not be considered to have, the same classi- 
flcatory or taxonomic significance which attaches to a cor- 
responding amount of morphological difference in organ- 
isms which lead independent existences. 
parasitize (par'a-si-tiz), v. t. ; pret. and pp. pa ra- 
sitizedj ppr. parasitizing. [< parasite + -ize.} 
In zool., to infest or make a host of (another 
animal), as a parasite. 
This Lernsea is luminous at night-time, and flsh parasi- 
tized are termed lanthorn-sprats. Day. 
parasitoid (par'a-si-toid), a. [< Gr. irapaamif, 
a parasite, + dSof, form.] Same as para- 
sitic. 
4284 
parasitological (par-a-sl-to-loj'i-kal), a. [<par- 
axitotog-y + -ic-<il.} Concerning parasites as 
objects of science ; pertaining to parasitology. 
parasitologist (par'a-si-tol'o-jist), 11. [< pam- 
Kitdli>(i-y + -ist.] One who studies parasites, or 
is versed in parasitology. 
parasitology (par"a-si-tol'o-ji), n. [< Gr. xapa- 
OT-rof, a parasite, -t- -toyia, < Uyctv, speak: see 
-ology.} The natural history of parasites; the 
science or study of parasitism. 
parasol (par'a-sol), n. [< F. parasol = Sp. Pg. 
parasol = D.'G. Sw. Dan.parasol, < It. parasole, 
a parasol, sunshade, <.parare, guard (seepare 1 ), 
+ sote,<L.so/, sun: see parry and Sol.'] Alight 
umbrella carried by women to shield their faces 
from the sun's rays ; a sunshade Parasol mush- 
room, an edible mushroom, Aoaricus procerus, having a 
red-brown obtusely obconic, or at length campanulate, 
fleshy pileus, from three to seven inches broad. 
parasol (par'a-sol), v. t.; pret. and pp. parasoled 
or parasolled, "ppr. parasoling or parasolling. [< 
parasol, n.~\ To shade with or as with a par- 
asol ; shelter from the sun's rays ; supply with 
a parasol. 
And if no kindly cloud will parasol me, 
My very cellular membrane will be changed ; 
I shall be negroned. 
Southey, Nondescripts, iii. (Davits.) 
The crowd of parasolled ladies. 
G. W. CaUe, Creoles of Louisiana, xxxv. 
parasol-ant (par'a-sol-ant), n. A leaf-carrying 
ant. 
parasolette(par"a-so-let'), [<. parasol + dim. 
-ette.} A diminutive parasol. Imp. Diet. 
parasol-fir (par'a-sol-fer), n. A Japanese fir- 
tree, Sciadopitys vertieillata. 
parasphenoid (par-a-sfe'noid), n. and a. [< 
Gr. n-apa, beside, + E. sphenoid.} I. n. 1. A 
long azygous dagger-shaped membrane-bone 
extending in midline lengthwise beneath the 
base of the skull in Sauropsida, along the course 
of the sphenoid bone proper. It forms part of 
the so-called rostrum or beak of the skull. 2. 
A median unpaired bone underlying the skull 
of amphibians and fishes, articulating with the 
vomer in front and with several bones behind. 
Longitudinal Vertical Section of Skull of Pike (Esox tucius], show- 
ing xxx, the huge parasphenoid ; y, small basisphenoid ; K0, vomer ; 
P, pituitary fossa; SyC, Pl'C, anterior and posterior semicircular 
canals ; y , V111, exits of fifth and eighth nerves ; Fr, frontal ; *, ali- 
sphenoid ; PrO, prootic ; SO, supraoccipital ; EfO, epiotic ; O, exoc- 
cipital ; BO, basiucdpit.il. 
This does not appear to be the same bone as that of the 
same name in the higher vertebrates, and has been ho- 
mologized by some authors with the true vomer of the lat- 
ter. See def. 1, and cuts under Lepidosiren and Anura. 
The anterior half of the parasphenoid is a slender style, 
widening out where it comes to underlie the brain-case. 
Geol. Jour., XLV. i. 113. 
II. a. Lying under or alongside the sphenoid ; 
of or pertaining to the parasphenoid, in either 
sense; parasphenoidal. 
parasphenoidal (par"a-sfe-noi'dal), a. ^para- 
sphenoid + -al.} Same as parasphenoid. 
Parasphex (par'a-sfeks), . [NL., < Gr. wapd, 
beside, -t- o-0;/f , a wasp.] A synonym of Enodia. 
Parastacidae (par-as-tas'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Parastacus + -idee. ] A family of fluviatile craw- 
fishes in which the first abdominal somite is not 
appendaged, and the apices of the podobranchise 
are not differentiated into a branchial plume 
and a well-developed lamina. The family belongs 
to the southern hemisphere, and contains the genera Asia- 
copsis, Ch&rops, Engseus, Paranephrops, Parastacus, and 
Astacoides, thus collectively distinguished from Potamobi- 
idte. 
parastacine (pa-ras'ta-sin), a. [< Parastacus 
+ -inel.} Of or pertaining to the Parastacidse. 
Huxley. 
ParastacilS (pa-ras'ta-kus), n. [NL. (Huxley, 
1878), < Gr. vapa, beside, + dcraKof, a crawfish : 
see Astacus.} The name-giving genus of Pa- 
rastacidse. Two species are P. brasiliensis and 
P. pilimanus. 
parastas (pa-ras'tas), n. ; pi. parastades (-ta- 
dez). [L.,< Gr. irapaaraf, a. pillar or post at ttie 
entrance of a building, a pilaster, < irapiaraaBai, 
stand beside, Kapiaravcu, put beside, put aside, 
< napa, beside, + loravai, stand.] In arch., a 
pilaster; specifically, an anta. 
The parastades or antse, which are customary in theOreek 
temples, and merely fulfilled in them an artistic purpose, 
have been used here principally for constructive reasons. 
Schliemann, Troja (trans.), p. 80. 
paratactic 
parastemon (par-a-ste'mon), . [NL., < Gr. 
irapd, about, + arf//iui', the warp of a web (in 
mod. bot. a stamen).] Same as staminodimu. 
parastemal (par-ij-strr'nal), . [< Gr. napd, 
beside, + arepvov, breast-bone.] Lying along- 
side the sternum or breast-bone, in the direc- 
tion of its long axis Parasternal line, fee linet. 
Parastemal region, the region in the front of the 
chest between the border of the sternum and the paraster- 
nal line. 
parastichy (pa-ras'ti-ki), n. ; pi. parastichies 
(-kiz). [NL., < Gr. irapd, about, + crr/^of, a row, 
rank, line.] In lot., a set of certain secondary 
spirals or oblique ranks which wind around 
the axis in opposite directions when the inter- 
nodes are short and the leaves approximate or 
overlap, as the scales of cones. 
Two sets of secondary spirals (Parastichies), crossing 
each other at an acute angle, may be observed on the stem 
when the leaves are close together. Bessey, Botany, p. 151. 
parastigma (par-a-stig'ma), n. ; p\. panis/i;/- 
mata (-ma-ta). [NL., < Gr. xapa, beside, + 
ari-y/M, a prick, spot: see stigma.} In entom., 
a chitinous spot on the wings of some insects, 
as in dragon-flies between the costal and post- 
costal veins of the forewings. 
parastigmatic (par"a-stig-mat'ik), a. [< NL. 
parastiyma (-stigma t-) + -ic.} Situated beside 
the stigma of an insect's wing; of or pertain- 
ing to the parastigma. 
Parasuchia (par-a-su'ki-a), n. pi. [NL., < Gr. 
Trapa, beside, + <roi>^of, a crocodile.] A group 
of extinct reptiles of Triassic age, having am- 
phicoslous vertebrae, the palate open anterior- 
ly for the nares, the coracoid bone large and 
reaching the sternum, and the ribs two-headed. 
It has been considered as either an order or a suborder of 
Crocodilia, or as a suborder of theromorphs. It contains 
the family Belodontidx. Contrasted with Eusuchia and 
Mesosuchia. 
parasuchian (par-a-su'ki-an), . and n. [< 
Parasuchia + -an.] I. a. Pertaining to the 
Parasuchia, or having their characters: as, a 
parasuchian reptile. 
II. n. A reptile of the group Parasuchia; a 
belodontid. 
parasynaxis (par"a-si-nak'sis), n. ; pi. parasy- 
naxes (-sez). [LL., < LGr. irapaavva^t(, an il- 
legal meeting, < Gr. irapd, beside, + LGr. aitvai-if : 
see gynaxis.} In civil law, a conventicle or un- 
lawful meeting. fTharton. 
parasynesis (par-a-sin'e-sis), . [NL., < Gr. 
napaavveaic, a misunderstanding, < vapa, beside, 
+ aiiveaif, understanding, intelligence : see syn- 
esis.} A misunderstanding or misconception of 
a word, all of which is present, as when Chinese 
is supposed to be a plural, and capable of fur- 
nishing Chinee in the singular number. S. S. 
Haldeman, Outlines of Etymology, p. 31. 
parasynovitis (par-a-sin-o-vi'tis), n. [NL., < 
Gr. Trapd, beside, + NL. synovia + -itis.} In- 
flammation in the immediate neighborhood of 
a joint. 
parasynthesis (par-a-sin'the-sis), n. [NL., < 
Gr. trapaavvBeaif, explained as "the composition 
of a preposition with a verb beginning with a 
vowel," < TrapaawBerof, formed from a compound: 
see parasyntheton and synthesis.} The princi- 
ple of formation of parasyntheta ; combined 
composition and derivation. 
parasynthetic (par'a-sin-thet'ik), a. and ti. 
[< paras i/nthet-on + -ic.} I. a. Pertaining to 
parasynthesis or parasyntheta. 
That species of word-creation commonly designated as 
parasynthetic. Amer. Jour. Ptalol., V. 187. 
II. n. A parasyntheton, or word formed by 
parasynthesis. 
parasyntheton (par-a-sin'the-ton), n. ; ^[.para- 
syntheta (-ta). [NL., < Gr. irapaavvBcrof, formed 
from a compound, < Trapd, beside, + crvvderof, 
put together: see synthesis.} A word made by 
a combined process of derivation and of com- 
position with a particle ; especially, a denomi- 
native verb involving composition with a pre- 
fix: for example, demonetize; French deborder, 
overflow; Spanish apedrar, pelt with stones. 
In examining the means that were adopted by the mod- 
ern languages to supply this important deficiency in ver- 
bal derivatives [from Romance languages), we fall upon a 
batch of these parasyntheta that are striking for their 
originality in formation and often in use. 
Amer. Jour. PhUol., V. 187. 
parasypbilitic (par-a-sif-i-lit'ik), a. [< Gr. 
Trapd, beside, + NL. syphilis: see syphilitic.} 
Pertaining in an indirect or remote way to 
syphilis : applied to certain diseased conditions. 
paratactic (par-a-tak'tik), . [< parataxis, 
after tactic.} Of or pertaining to parataxis; 
characterized by parataxis. H. Sweet. 
