slitheryadj.
/ˈslɪðəri/ Originally dialect.
Slippery, in various senses.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > smoothness > [adjective] > smooth and slippery
slippera1050
slibbery?c1225
slidderya1250
slidder1398
lubric1490
slid1513
slippery1551
icy?1552
slipperous1585
glib1594
gliding1594
slicked1594
glibbery1601
lubrical1602
slape1671
slithery1825
slithy1855
butter-smooth1868
slick1901
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [adjective]
ficklea1000
hinderyeapc1000
swikelc1000
as right (also stiff, straight, crooked, etc.) as a ram's hornOE
fakenOE
swikefulc1100
frakelc1175
swikec1175
wrenchfulc1225
wielfulc1275
ginfulc1300
guileful13..
treacherousc1330
guilesomea1382
guilousc1384
enginousa1393
deceivant1393
treacherc1400
serpentinec1422
deceivousa1425
guilyc1430
beguilous1483
slapea1500
fallacious1509
treget1519
gaudya1529
beguileful1530
Spanish1530
juggling?1531
snakish1532
prestigious?1534
knack-hardy1549
pratting1570
fogging1585
snakya1586
abusive1595
faithless1597
faiterous1600
guiled1600
trompant1605
amusing1609
braida1616
dodging1625
Ulyssean1639
tricksome1648
knackish1660
hocus-pocus1668
bubbling1675
rusé1689
tricking1697
trickish1705
lurching1728
tricksy1766
trickful1775
tricky1786
slippy1828
shirky1847
dodgy1861
sidewinding1902
slithery1902
hyping1968
deceiteous-
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > evasive deception, shiftiness > [adjective]
slipperc1000
hinderc1200
slidderya1250
covert1340
unwrast1393
slyc1440
slippery1555
fetching1570
shifting1581
as slippery as an eel1601
roundabout1608
corner-creeping1610
shuffling1616
prevaricatory1645
prevaricative1657
sliverly1674
whifflinga1680
sneak-pasty1681
slid1719
evasive1725
shauchling1755
shifty1837
slab-bridged1845
sneaky1861
pussy-footed1893
sidewinding1902
slithery1902
pussyfooting1926
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > unreliability > [adjective] > of persons
slipperc1000
ficklea1275
untristya1387
flickering1430
untrusty1430
slidingc1435
unsurec1445
untraistc1485
unassure1531
slippery1555
untraisty1567
untrustful1569
unresponsable1619
uncanny1639
fair-weather1677
unresponsible1764
independable1802
unreliable1810
untrustworthy1846
undependable1860
incalculable1876
slithery1902
wonky1919
doubtful1925
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Sclidder, Sclitherie, Slippery.
1861 J. F. Hardy in Peaks, Passes, & Glac. I. 390 The rock..in general..was well covered with snow. This in parts was very dry and slithery.
1884 T. Speedy Sport in Highlands xix. 375 The ‘sclithery’ rock giving way, we slid down again into the bottom of the ‘rut’.
1902 Daily Chron. 4 Sept. 3/2 The Jesuit..was mysterious, elusive, not to say slithery.
1922 E. R. Eddison Worm Ouroboros xxvi. 332 With rocks and pits hidden in the heather, and slithery slabs of granite.
1946 M. Peake Titus Groan 298 His lordship..was gazing at his daughter with a slithery smile upon his mouth that had once been so finely drawn.
1952 L. A. G. Strong Darling Tom i. 12 Against the wall stood four slithery horse-hair chairs.
1975 E. Huxley Gallipot Eyes (1976) 168 Oaksey Wood is a morass with yellowish water lying deep in slithery tractor ruts.
Compounds
slithery-eyed, slithery-slobbery adjs.
ΚΠ
1921 D. H. Lawrence Sea & Sardinia iii. 123 Give me the old, salty way of love. How I am nauseated with sentiment and nobility, the macaroni slithery-slobbery mess of modern adorations.
1977 New Yorker 8 Aug. 11/1 He picks out the very lad:..a twin..identical to the slithery-eyed boy destined to grow up into Marty Feldman.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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adj.1825