Synonyms for serpent


Grammar : Noun
Spell : sur-puh nt
Phonetic Transcription : ˈsɜr pənt


Définition of serpent

Origin :
  • 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" (cf. Sanskrit sarpati "creeps," sarpah "serpent;" Greek herpein "to creep," herpeton "serpent;" Albanian garper "serpent").
  • Used figuratively to express spiral or regularly sinuous, e.g. as the word for 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).
  • noun reptile
Example sentences :
  • I think you'd better get rid of that Shandy serpent; he seems ripe for any deviltry.
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • In moving I had trodden on or touched the serpent with my foot, and it had bitten me just above the ankle.
  • Extract from : « Green Mansions » by W. H. Hudson
  • Cursed be the serpent that bit you and had not sufficient power in its venom to kill!
  • Extract from : « Green Mansions » by W. H. Hudson
  • And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."
  • Extract from : « Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I » by Francis Augustus Cox
  • Had she produced a serpent, I could not have been more frightened.
  • Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
  • But who can say that the serpent of his tribe has forgotten his wisdom?
  • Extract from : « The Last of the Mohicans » by James Fenimore Cooper
  • But the Rector felt that he was listening to the excuses of a serpent.
  • Extract from : « The Incomplete Amorist » by E. Nesbit
  • What was there to ask that would not be a challenge to her to lie, as the serpent had lied?
  • Extract from : « The Incomplete Amorist » by E. Nesbit
  • The serpent had asked him to be gentle with her—had dared to ask him.
  • Extract from : « The Incomplete Amorist » by E. Nesbit
  • I would have said,' cried Mr Pecksniff, 'that the Serpent lied.
  • Extract from : « Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit » by Charles Dickens

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019