Crepen

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Archaic past form of the verb creep, describing something that moved slowly and quietly along the ground or close to a surface
2. An old-fashioned past tense form of creep, used of a person or animal that advanced stealthily and unnoticed
3. Obsolete participle of the verb creep, indicating motion that was slow, low and quiet, as in Middle English writing

Etymology: "Crepen" is a Middle English past participle of "creep," the form that "crept" eventually displaced. It descends from the Old English strong verb "crēopan," which had a past tense "crēap" and a past participle "crepen," following the pattern of verbs that changed their vowel in the past. Early English writers used the participle much as they used "crope" and "creep" in other forms, and the verb is related to German "kriechen," meaning "to crawl."

Synonyms: crawl, slink, sneak, inch

Antonyms: run, rush