serpent-likeadj.adv.
A. adj.
Like a serpent; = serpentine adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > diabolicalness > [adjective]
devillyOE
fiendenc1315
serpentinec1422
devilish?a1439
diabolic?1483
feding1502
diabolical1546
satanic1556
demoniacal1565
serpent-likea1586
serpentive1635
devilized1641
fiendlike1716
diabolish1865
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > writhing or twisting movement > [adjective] > moving sinuously
writhing?1561
serpent-likea1586
wringling1596
winding1613
writhy1743
sinuous1897
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > devilishly wicked
devillyOE
fiendenc1315
serpentinec1422
devilish?a1439
diabolic?1483
diabolical1546
satanical1548
satanic1556
serpent-likea1586
fiendlikea1616
serpentive1635
devilized1641
demoniacal1714
demoniac1784
diabolish1865
the world > space > shape > curvature > series of curves > [adjective] > having many or winding curves
tortivous14..
anfractuous?a1425
tortuous1426
tortuea1500
snakish1532
winding1538
wormy1545
boughty1570
wriggled1572
sinuous1578
serpent-likea1586
crankled1594
serpent1597
snaky1600
flexuous1605
snaking1605
cringle-crangle1606
voluminous1611
serpenting?1614
serpentine1615
curvy1623
serpentizing1628
worming1631
lacinious1648
anguineous1656
anguine1657
anfractuose1680
twisting1683
vermicular1712
worm-like1721
flexuose1727
meandering1748
crinkum-crankum1766
serpentiform1777
serpentining1799
anguiform1800
ophite1828
tortuose1829
cranky1836
sinuose1836
serpentile1857
twisty1857
sinuated1859
vermiculatea1864
twinyc1868
tortive1880
crinkle-crankle1881
serpentinous1882
quirky1890
twistical1890
waggly1894
wriggly1901
squiggly1902
wiggly1903
contortionate1911
wig-waggy1914
curvaceous1965
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) i. sig. H6 A creeping serpentlike of mortall woe.
?1614 W. Drummond Sonnet: Nor Arne in Poems Serpent-like Meander.
1629 H. Burton Truth's Triumph 307 His serpent-like gate.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VII. 142 Its serpent-like figure.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Miner's Right II. xxv. 235 I re-read the serpent-like scroll which had been cast into my Eden of love and faith.
B. adv.
With serpentine motion, habit, disposition, etc.; †malignantly, treacherously.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > diabolicalness > [adverb]
devillyOE
serpentinously1502
devilishly1528
diabolicallya1600
serpent-like1608
diabolicly1683
the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Ophidia (snakes) > [adverb]
serpent-like1608
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adverb] > diabolically or fiendishly
devillyOE
serpentinously1502
devilishly1528
satanically1590
diabolicallya1600
serpent-like1608
diabolicly1683
demonically1834
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear vii. 319 She hath..Lookt blacke vpon me, strooke mee with her tongue Most Serpent-like vpon the very heart. View more context for this quotation
1682 tr. J. Goedaert Of Insects 109 These Insects did put off their skins, Serpent like.
1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) i. clxvi. 10 Where, Serpent-like in Paradise, she over Her foul Design spread this fair-faced cover.
1825 W. Scott Talisman viii, in Tales Crusaders IV. 158 The marabout..glided on..serpent-like, or rather snail-like.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online September 2020).
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adj.adv.a1586