An animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); it obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host.

Roget 935: flatterer, adulator; eulogist, euphemist; optimist, encomiast, laudator [Lat.], whitewasher.    toady, toadeater^†; sycophant, courtier, Sir Pertinax MacSycophant; flaneur [Fr.], proneur [Fr.]; puffer, touter^†, claqueur [Fr.]; clawback^†, earwig, doer of dirty work; parasite, hanger-on etc. (servility) 886.    yes-man, suckup, ass-kisser [Vulg.], brown-noser [Vulg.], teacher's pet.    ... show more

Roget 746: subject, liegeman^†; servant, retainer, follower, henchman, servitor, domestic, menial, help, lady help, employe, attache; official.    retinue, suite, cortege, staff, court.    attendant, squire, usher, page, donzel^†, footboy^†; train bearer, cup bearer; waiter, lapster^†, butler, livery servant, lackey, footman, flunky, flunkey, valet, valet de chambre [Fr.]; equerry, groom; jockey, hostler, ostler^†, tiger, orderly, messenger, cad, gillie^†, herdsman, swineherd; barkeeper, bartender; bell boy, boots, boy, counterjumper^†; khansamah^†, khansaman^†; khitmutgar^†; yardman.    bailiff, castellan^†, seneschal, chamberlain, major-domo^†, groom of the chambers.    secretary; under secretary, assistant secretary; clerk; subsidiary; agent etc. 758; subaltern; underling, understrapper; man.    maid, maidservant; handmaid; confidente [Fr.], lady's maid, abigail, soubrette; amah^†, biddy, nurse, bonne [Fr.], ayah^†; nursemaid, nursery maid, house maid, parlor maid, waiting maid, chamber maid, kitchen maid, scullery maid; femme de chambre [Fr.], femme fille [Fr.]; camarista^†; chef de cuisine, cordon bleu [Fr.], cook, scullion, Cinderella; potwalloper^†; maid of all work, servant of all work; laundress, bedmaker^†; journeyman, charwoman etc. (worker) 690; bearer, chokra^†, gyp (Cambridge), hamal^†, scout (Oxford). serf, vassal, slave, negro, helot; bondsman, bondswoman^†; bondslave^†; ame damnee [Fr.], odalisque, ryot^†, adscriptus gleboe [Lat.]; villian^†, villein; beadsman^†, bedesman^†; sizar^†; pensioner, pensionary^†; client; dependant, dependent; hanger on, satellite; parasite etc. (servility) 886; led captain; protege [Fr.], ward, hireling, mercenary, puppet, tool, creature.    badge of slavery; bonds etc. 752.    ... show more

Dutch: epifyt, gastplant, parasiet, parasietplant, woekerplant
Polish: pasożyt

A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage.

synonyms: leech, sponge, sponger.

Roget 886: servility; slavery etc. (subjection) 749; obsequiousness etc. adj.; subserviency; abasement; prostration, prosternation^†; genuflection etc. (worship) 990; fawning etc. v.; tuft-hunting, timeserving^†, flunkeyism^†; sycophancy etc. (flattery) 933; humility etc. 879.    sycophant, parasite; toad, toady, toad-eater; tufthunter^†; snob, flunky, flunkey, yes-man, lapdog, spaniel, lickspittle, smell-feast, Graeculus esuriens [Lat.], hanger on, cavaliere servente [It], led captain, carpet knight; timeserver, fortune hunter, Vicar of Bray, Sir-Pertinax, Max Sycophant, pickthank^†; flatterer etc. 935; doer of dirty work; ame damnee [Fr.], tool; reptile; slave etc. (servant) 746; courtier; beat [Slang], dead beat [Slang], doughface [U.S.], heeler [U.S.], homme de cour [Fr.], sponger, sucker [Slang], tagtail^†, truckler.    ... show more

Dutch: bietser, klaploper, parasiet, uitvreter
Polish: pijawka, krwiopijca