viperine
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of viperine
From the Latin word vīperīnus, dating back to 1540–50. See viper, -ine 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Here, among a number of viperine snakes of about the same size, is a snake that lives on eggs.
From The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 28, April 1893 An Illustrated Monthly by Newnes, George
Europe, brought in by Monsieur de Nucingen, put her viperine head in at the door, and after listening to a few words whispered in her ear by her mistress, she vanished.
From Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Balzac, Honoré de
But he, “fearing the scoldings of his too tongue-banging wife more than God’s justice, and being, moreover, spell-bound by her viperine hissings,” affected utter innocence.
From Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln A Short Story of One of the Makers of Mediaeval England by Marson, Charles L. (Charles Latimer)
Like other viperine bites, however, it so affects the surrounding flesh that blood poisoning may follow days after the first crisis has been passed.
From Wings of the Wind by Harris, Credo Fitch
Thick and viperine, the thing looked, as it hurled forward.
From Son of Power by Comfort, Will Levington
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
