noun
A shadow or parallel framework that operates adjacent to or beneath the primary structure, often unofficial, improvised, or subversive in nature. It refers to auxiliary systems—social, conceptual, or material—that support, mimic, or undermine the dominant order without being formally recognized.
Etymology:
From para- (beside, beyond, or contrary to) + structure (arrangement or framework); evoking both parallelism and deviation.
Example Sentence:
While the institution maintained rigid protocols, a parastructure of mutual aid and quiet resistance kept the community truly functional.