serpent
pronunciation
How to pronounce serpent in British English:
UK [ˈsɜ:pənt]
How to pronounce serpent in American English:
US [ˈsɜrpənt]
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- Noun:
- limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
- a firework that moves in serpentine manner when ignited
- an obsolete bass cornet; resembles a snake
Word Origin
- serpent
- serpent: [14] The serpent is etymologically a ‘crawling’ animal. The word comes via Old French serpent from Latin serpēns, a noun use of the present participle of serpere ‘crawl, creep’. This was a close relative of Greek hérpein ‘creep’, from which English gets herpes [17] (etymologically the ‘creeping’ disease) and herpetology ‘study of reptiles’ [19].=> herpes
- serpent (n.)
- c. 1300, "limbless reptile," also the tempter in Gen. iii:1-5, from Old French serpent, sarpent "snake, serpent" (12c.), from Latin serpentem (nominative serpens) "snake; creeping thing," also the name of a constellation, from present participle of serpere "to creep," from PIE *serp- "to crawl, creep" (cognates: Sanskrit sarpati "creeps," sarpah "serpent;" Greek herpein "to creep," herpeton "serpent;" Albanian garper "serpent"). Used figuratively of things spiral or regularly sinuous, such as a type of musical instrument (1730). Serpent's tongue as figurative of venomous or stinging speech is from mistaken medieval notion that the serpent's tongue was its "sting." Serpent's tongue also was a name given to fossil shark's teeth (c. 1600).
Example
- 1. And that serpent is a symbol for both the creative and destructive forces of nature .
- 2. This time , the anonymous photographer appears to have set up his tripod on the river bank , and captures the terrifying serpent ( this time resembling a length of rolled up carpet ) stretched across the width of the river .
- 3. Those who give you a serpent when you ask for a fish , may have nothing but serpents to give .
- 4. Last summer , the city asked a design agency to come up with ways to incorporate a serpent motif .
- 5. During the equinoxes , shadows cast by the railings create the illusion of a writhing serpent body , descending the northern steps where it joins the carved serpent 's head at the base of the stairway .