Many concepts over time change their meaning to the exact opposite. This rarely happens, but creates an amazing situation within the language in which one term covers different phenomena. For modern Russian speech, "parasite" is something bad. A clear negative context is felt immediately. Although in former times, getting such a person in your family was a good thing, even profitable. What happened?
Food and accommodation
The original word is “bread”, descended from a consonant Proto-Slavic root. It implies a basic and affordable product found in different cultures with developed agriculture. The prefix “ on” sets the emphasis on the need for such food. It helps to indicate a person who:
- comes to eat;
- gives money for food.
Is it really about guests or ordinary shoppers at the grocery store? Not at all, the concept is somewhat deeper.
Frugality and generosity
Today cafes and hostels are everywhere and for any wallet. Previously, travelers with limited funds had to look for places to relax and inexpensive food. Now the obsolete meaning of "parasite" denoted such masters. They allocated a certain amount to the family in order to receive:
- good homemade food;
- place to stay.
The second point is an option, but students, employees in the service of officers and officials in a foreign city cannot do without food. Dining in taverns is expensive, burdening friends is a shame, and there is not enough personal time. This is where the help of an experienced hostess comes in handy. All you need is to add water to the pot and throw a couple of extra potatoes.
But even in earlier times, individuals of dubious moral qualities came across. They could easily pay a few meals, then begged out in debt and subsequently completely disappear. So the modern interpretation was born:
- one who lives at the expense of others;
- the engraver.
The meaning is quite wide. Dear relatives who came to stay and stay for a month fall under it. But the gigolos are not deprived of attention: such can exist on personal funds, live pretty well, but at the same time regularly beg for handouts from the passion. Remote parasite is an achievement of the 20th century when being under the same roof to lure other people's money is not necessary.
Theory and practice
How appropriate is it to screw a word into a conversation? Do not forget that now it is rather an insult. Depending on the context: a direct rebuke or a clear allusion to a person’s parasitism, her unwillingness to live independently. Another thing is that in fiction, in historical documents, an outdated interpretation is periodically found, which is worth remembering to understand the text from the first reading!