A parasitic roundworm, especially of the genus Ascaris, that infects the intestines of humans and animals.
From Greek askaris, of uncertain origin but possibly related to 'to jump' or 'to thrash about,' referring to the worm's active movement. The term has been used in medicine since ancient Greek times and appears in Hippocratic texts.
Ascare and its relatives (ascarid, ascaridae) are roundworms that infected humans throughout history—ancient doctors had no microscopes but described these parasites surprisingly accurately based on what they saw in infected patients!
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