Serpent

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsɜːpənt/

Definitions

1. A long, legless reptile that moves by slithering along the ground, often associated with danger or cunning in literature and mythology
2. A legless reptile characterized by elongated body, scales, and venomous or non-venomous fangs, symbolizing deceit and temptation in religious and mythological contexts
3. An elongated cold-blooded creature that glides silently through grass and trees using muscular undulation, frequently depicted as treacherous or mystical in cultural narratives

Etymology: The English "serpent" is a borrowing that pushed out a native word. Before it arrived, English speakers called these animals "nǣdre," the ancestor of today's "adder," which now survives only as the name of a venomous snake. The newcomer came from Old French "serpent," which in turn came from Latin "serpēns," meaning "snake." That Latin word was originally a verb form, the present participle of "serpere," meaning "to creep" or "to crawl." A snake was, in effect, the creeping thing, and the name describes its movement rather than its appearance. The same ancient root shows up far away in Sanskrit "sarpa," also meaning "snake," which points to a shared inheritance from a very distant common ancestor.

Synonyms: snake