serpent

[ sur-puhnt ]

noun

1. a snake.
2. a wily, treacherous, or malicious person.
3. the Devil; Satan. Genesis 3:1–5.
4. a firework that burns with a serpentine motion or flame.
5. an obsolete wooden wind instrument with a serpentine shape and a deep, coarse tone. Compare ophicleide.
6. Serpent, Astronomy. the constellation Serpens.

serpent

/ ˈsɜːpənt /

noun

1. See snake
   a literary or dialect word for snake
2. Old Testament a manifestation of Satan as a guileful tempter (Genesis 3:1–5)
3. a sly, deceitful, or unscrupulous person
4. an obsolete wind instrument resembling a snake in shape, the bass form of the cornett
5. a firework that moves about with a serpentine motion when ignited

serpent

1. The creature in the Book of Genesis that tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit , thus committing the first act of the Fall of Man . In the New Testament , the serpent of Genesis is identified with Satan .

Word History and Origins

Origin of serpent¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin serpent-, stem of serpēns “crawling”; Serpens

Word History and Origins

Origin of serpent¹

C14: via Old French from Latin serpēns a creeping thing, from serpere to creep; related to Greek herpein to crawl

Example Sentences

Still we sped north, ever closer to the living, billowing serpent of smoke devouring the sky.

From Outside Online

“I tell my colleagues, the serpent who bites your enemy today could bite you tomorrow,” Buck said.

From Washington Post

They’re delightful, non-threatening, and non-fire-breathing — colorful serpents who fly, swim, and generally behave like wriggly pets.

From Vox

Co-written and co-produced with Sampha and Lil Silva, serpent expresses love and gratitude for friends and the love they share.

From Essence.com

She is flying uphill, toward the belly of the serpent, making it look easy.

From Washington Post

In fact I wanted to call the novel “Sex with the Serpent Girl” but was overruled.

From The Daily Beast

We are on the last leg of the walk, and beginning to lose hope of a serpent score.

From The Daily Beast

Isbell's book is titled The Fruit, the Tree and the Serpent: Why We See So Well.

From The Daily Beast

In response to the criticism, an Iraqi state-run newspaper published a poem calling Albright an “unparalleled serpent.”

From The Daily Beast

He was Honour's self, till he brought the serpent to his bosom, in the shape of his perfidious son.

From Project Gutenberg

But all of this is in contradiction to the curses of Jahveh on the serpent, and on those to whom the serpent brought wisdom.

From Project Gutenberg

A serpent is a serpent, and none the less a viper, because nestled in the bosom of an honest hearted man.

From Project Gutenberg

He dreamt of a serpent coiling around his throat, and when he strove to grasp it the slimy thing glided away from his clutch.

From Project Gutenberg

For two years Corentin was attached to this strange girl as a serpent to a tree.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• snake
• viper