creepyadj.
/ˈkriːpi/, U.S. /ˈkripi/ 1. Characterized by creeping or moving slowly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > [adjective] > moving slowly
slowa1398
slow-movingc1450
slow-bellied1554
lazya1568
slow-footed1587
slow-paced1594
leaden-footed1596
snaily1596
snail-paced1597
dragglinga1599
leaden-heeled1598
ambling1600
slow-foot1607
sluggisha1616
slow-pacing1616
tortoise-paced1623
slow-going1634
leaden-stepping1645
tardigradous1652
tardigrade1656
snail-crawleda1658
dawdling1773
loitering1791–2
slow-stepping1793
creepy1794
lugging1816
tortoise-footed1818
crawling1820
creepy-crawly1858
slowing1877
lead-foot1896
soodling1951
1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature II. 95 It is a creepy fluid.
1860 All Year Round 31 Mar. 538 She is rarely still, though I am bound to say she is creepy gentleness itself.
1889 J. Abercromby Trip E. Caucasus 180 An artistically embroidered coverlet tenanted..by countless swarms of creepy insects.
2.
a. Having a creeping of the flesh, or chill shuddering feeling, caused by horror or repugnance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > sensation of something creeping on skin > [adjective]
creeping1814
creepy1831
crawly1860
creepy-crawlya1893
the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > [adjective] > shuddering with fear > having sensation of shiver
creeping1814
creepy1831
crawly1860
creepy-crawlya1893
1831 Cat's Tail 30 I feel somehow quite creepy at the thought of what's coming.
1863 Ld. Lytton Ring of Amasis II. 38 There comes over him, all at once, a sort of cold, creepy shudder.
1882 Macmillan's Mag. 46 444 To confess that he has felt ‘creepy’ on account of certain inexplicable sounds.
b. transferred. Tending to produce such sensations.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > sensation of something creeping on skin > [adjective] > causing creeping sensation on skin
creepy1883
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing physical symptoms > [adjective] > causing the hair to stand on end or gooseflesh
gruesome1570
porcupinish1829
horripilant1837
grauly1848
creepy1883
goosefleshy1894
goosefleshing1895
1883 ‘G. Lloyd’ Ebb & Flow II. xxxiii. 236 The whole place seemed lonely, and, as Mildred whispered to Pauline, ‘creepy’.
1892 Spectator 2 Apr. 470/1 A really effective romance of the creepy order.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1794