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Webster 1913 Edition

Serpent

Ser′pent

,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
serpens
,
-entis
(sc.
bestia
), fr.
serpens
, p. pr. of
serpere
to creep; akin to Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK], Skr.
sarp
, and perhaps to L.
repere
, E.
reptile
. Cf.
Herpes
.]
1.
(Zool.)
Any reptile of the order Ophidia; a snake, especially a large snake. See Illust. under
Ophidia
.
☞ The serpents are mostly long and slender, and move partly by bending the body into undulations or folds and pressing them against objects, and partly by using the free edges of their ventral scales to cling to rough surfaces. Many species glide swiftly over the ground, some burrow in the earth, others live in trees. A few are entirely aquatic, and swim rapidly. See
Ophidia
, and
Fang
.
2.
Fig.: A subtle, treacherous, malicious person.
3.
A species of firework having a serpentine motion as it passess through the air or along the ground.
4.
(Astron.)
The constellation Serpens.
5.
(Mus.)
A bass wind instrument, of a loud and coarse tone, formerly much used in military bands, and sometimes introduced into the orchestra; – so called from its form.
Pharaoh’s serpent
(Chem.)
,
mercuric sulphocyanate, a combustible white substance which in burning gives off a poisonous vapor and leaves a peculiar brown voluminous residue which is expelled in a serpentine from. It is employed as a scientific toy.
–
Serpent cucumber
(Bot.)
,
the long, slender, serpentine fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant
Trichosanthes colubrina
; also, the plant itself.
–
Serpent eage
(Zool.)
,
any one of several species of raptorial birds of the genera
Circaetus
and
Spilornis
, which prey on serpents. They inhabit Africa, Southern Europe, and India. The European serpent eagle is
Circaetus Gallicus
.
–
Serpent eater
.
(Zool.)
(a)
The secretary bird
.
(b)
An Asiatic antelope; the markhoor.
–
Serpent fish
(Zool.)
,
a fish (
Cepola rubescens
) with a long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running lengthwise.
–
Serpent star
(Zool.)
,
an ophiuran; a brittle star.
–
Serpent's tongue
(Paleon.)
,
the fossil tooth of a shark; – so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root.
–
Serpent withe
(Bot.)
,
a West Indian climbing plant (
Aristolochia odoratissima
).
–
Tree serpent
(Zool.)
,
any species of African serpents belonging to the family
Dendrophidae
.

Ser′pent

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Serpented
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Serpenting
.]
To wind like a serpent; to crook about; to meander.
[R.]
“The serpenting of the Thames.”
Evelyn.

Ser′pent

,
Verb.
T.
To wind; to encircle.
[R.]
Evelyn.

Webster 1828 Edition

Serpent

SER'PENT

,
Noun.
[L. serpens, creeping; serpo, to creep.]
1. An animal of the order of Serpentes, [creepers, crawlers,] Of the class of Amphibia. Serpents are amphibious animals, breathing through the mouth bymeans of lungs only; having tapering bodies, without a distinct neck; the jaws not articulated, but dilatable, and withour feet, fins or ears. Serpents move along the earth by a winding motion, and with the head elevated. Some species of them are viviparous, or rather ovi-viviparous; others are oviparous; and several species are venomous.
2. In astronomy, a constellation of the northern hemisphere, containing, according to the British catalogue, sixty-four stars.
3. An instrument of music, serving as a base to the cornet or small shawm, to sustain a chorus of singers in a large edifice. It is so called for its folds or wreaths.
4. Figuratively, a subtil or malicious person.
5. In mythology, a symbol of the sun.

Definition 2024

Serpent

Serpent

See also: serpent and sèrpent

French

Proper noun

Serpent

  1. Serpens (constellation)

serpent

serpent

See also: Serpent and sèrpent

English

Noun

serpent ‎(plural serpents)

  1. A snake.
  2. (music) An obsolete wind instrument in the brass family, whose shape is suggestive of a snake (Wikipedia article).
  3. (figuratively) A subtle, treacherous, malicious person.
  4. A kind of firework with a serpentine motion.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

serpent ‎(third-person singular simple present serpents, present participle serpenting, simple past and past participle serpented)

  1. (obsolete) To wind; to encircle.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Evelyn to this entry?)

See also

Anagrams

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin serpēns, serpentem, from serpō ‎(“crawl, creep”), from Proto-Indo-European *serp-.

Noun

serpent m, f ‎(plural serpents)

  1. snake

Synonyms

Dutch

Pronunciation

  • Hyphenation: ser‧pent
  • Rhymes: -ɛnt

Etymology

Borrowing from Old French serpent ‎(“snake, serpent”), from Latin serpēns ‎(“snake”), from the verb serpō ‎(“I creep, crawl”), from Proto-Indo-European *serp-.

Noun

serpent n, f, m ‎(plural serpenten, diminutive serpentje n)

  1. (archaic) snake n
  2. an unpleasant, spiteful person n
  3. (music) serpent f

Synonyms

Anagrams

French

Etymology

From Middle French serpent, from Old French serpent, from Latin serpentem, accusative form of serpēns, from serpō ‎(“crawl, creep”), from Proto-Indo-European *serp-.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /sɛʁpɑ̃/

Noun

serpent m ‎(plural serpents)

  1. snake

Derived terms

Anagrams

Latin

Verb

serpent

  1. third-person plural future active indicative of serpō

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French serpent, from Latin serpentem, accusative singular form of serpēns.

Noun

serpent m (plural serpenz)

  1. snake

Descendants

Old French

Etymology

From Latin serpēns, serpentem.

Noun

serpent m ‎(oblique plural serpenz or serpentz, nominative singular serpenz or serpentz, nominative plural serpent)

  1. snake

Descendants

Romansch

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin serpēns, serpentem.

Noun

serpent m (plural serpents)

  1. (Surmiran) snake

Synonyms

  • (Rumantsch Grischun, Puter, Vallader) serp
  • (Sursilvan) siarp
  • (Sutsilvan) zearp
  • (Surmiran) zerp

Etymology

Borrowing from Old French serpent ‎(“snake, serpent”), from Latin serpēns ‎(“snake”), from the verb serpō ‎(“I creep, crawl”), from Proto-Indo-European *serp-.

Pronunciation

Similar Results