viperousadj.
/ˈvʌɪp(ə)rəs/, U.S. /ˈvaɪp(ə)rəs/ 1. † b. In allusive use (see viper n. 3a). Obsolete.
a. Of or pertaining to a viper or vipers.Rarely in literal use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > spite, malice > [adjective]
loathOE
teenfulOE
nithefulOE
ondfula1200
maliciousa1250
doggedc1300
enviousc1330
venomousa1340
venoma1350
spitous?a1366
despitousc1374
heinous?a1400
unkindlya1400
venomyc1400
sinister1411
sputousc1420
doggish?a1425
cankered?a1439
doggya1450
sinistrous1460
spity1481
despiteful1488
spiteful1490
despiteous?1510
viperious?1510
peevisha1522
envyful1530
viperous1535
viperinec1540
vipered1560
bad-minded1588
uncanny1596
dogged-sprighted1600
toothsome1601
maliced1602
ill-minded1611
virulent1613
ill-hearteda1617
doleful1617
spitish1627
ill-meaning1633
splenial1641
litherlya1643
venomsome1660
slim1668
cat-witted1672
vipereal1750
viperish1755
méchant1813
vicious1825
maliceful1840
mean1841
waspish1855
viperian1866
viperan1877
cattish1883
catty1886
bad mind1904
bitchy1908
the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Ophidia (snakes) > types of snake > [adjective] > of or relating to family Viperidae > of or relating to viper
viperous1535
vipered1560
viperine1608
vipereousc1620
vipereal1750
viperian1866
viperan1877
figurative.
lit.1614 A. Gorges tr. Lucan Pharsalia ix. 391 But when she [Medusa] comb'd her crawling crowne, The viprous venome trailed downe.1706 D. Defoe Jure Divino xii. 7 In vain supplies of vip'rous Blood they bring.1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 144 With vipros vennum inwart in his mynd,..Dissaitfullie that tyme he gart him trow, That he wrocht ay for his plesour and prow.
1602 S. Rowlands Tis Merrie (Hunterian Club) 13 No viperous tongue thy pleasant vayne will strike.
1608 D. Tuvill Ess. Politicke, & Morall f. 130 With the filthy slime of their malicious and viperous iawes.
a1665 J. Goodwin Πλήρωμα τὸ Πνευματικόv (1670) iv. 54 Men of a viperous spirit, and desperately set upon their own ruine and destruction.
1765 J. Beattie Judgment of Paris 27 Censure spreads the viperous hiss around.
a1859 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. (1861) V. xxv. 304 Papers about the brazen forehead, the viperous tongue, and the white liver of Jack Howe.
1886 Daily News 8 Apr. 5/3 What viperous venom and what rat-like rage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > killing of type of person > [adjective] > of relative > of mother
viperous1561
matricidal1812
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. (1634) iii. v. 319 Out of that ancient custome the confessions and satisfactions that are at this day used, tooke their beginning. Truly very viperous births.
?1605 J. Davies Wittes Pilgrimage sig. X2v The Viperous Iron Teeth of Time May gnaw away, to wrack, through my Works Wombe.
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 127 Whether [it be]..from vapors ingendred in the bowels of the earth, and loth to bee imprisoned in a wrong orb, [the subterranean fire] rends its passage by a viperous horrid motion; or [etc.].
2. † b. In allusive use (cf. 4b, and see viper n. 3a).† c. Of hair, etc. Cf. snaky adj. 1. Obsolete. rare.
a. Composed or consisting of vipers. Frequently with admixture of sense 4.Chiefly in figurative use or as a term of opprobrium, esp. in viperous brood or generation; frequently in the 17th cent., now rare or archaic.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective]
litherc893
unledeeOE
evil971
missOE
murkOE
unrighteousOE
unseelyOE
un-i-seliOE
unselec1050
wickc1175
foul-itowenc1225
unwrast?c1225
un-i-felec1275
wickedc1275
wrakefula1350
felonousc1374
unquertc1390
unperfect1395
felona1400
wanc1440
meschant?c1450
sinnyc1475
unselc1480
poison?1527
pernicious?1533
scelerous1534
viperous?1548
improbate1596
scelestious1609
scelestic1628
spider-like1655
dark-hearted1656
demonic1796
nineteda1798
sinful1863
the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Ophidia (snakes) > types of snake > [adjective] > of or relating to family Viperidae > composed or consisting of vipers
viperous1694
vipery1909
figurative.
lit.1694 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 18 128 Vipers, and all the Viperous Brood.1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) ii. cxxviii. 22 She..rent from thence, before Psyche's astonish'd eyes, that viperous fry Which her snarl'd soul in unfelt bands did ty.?1548 J. Bale Comedy Thre Lawes Nature iv. sig. F Oh ragynge serpentes, and vyperouse generacyon.
1587 J. Hooker tr. Giraldus Cambrensis Vaticinall Hist. Conquest Ireland ii. xvi. 42/1 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II The loose life of that viperous nation.
1601 A. Dent Plaine Mans Path-way to Heauen 171 This viperous brood [of liars] doo but watch their times and opportunities.
1643 F. Quarles Loyall Convert in Wks. (1880) I. 142/2 A viperous Generation (which hath long nested in this unhappie Island).
1671 A. Seller Devout Communicant 153 That the Lord of all should..take into his bosom the viperous brood, that have so oft spit their venom in his face?
1707 E. Ward Hudibras Redivivus II. vii. 23 For in this pious Christian Nation, There is a vip'rous Congregation.
1714 L. Milbourne Traytors Reward Pref. His way of extolling his viperous generation is so very impudent and rediculous, that [etc.].
1814 R. Southey Roderick v. 115 These were Witiza's hateful progeny; And in an evil hour the unhappy King Had spared the viperous brood.
1874 F. W. Farrar Life Christ (1884) viii. 53 A formalism and falsity which made them vipers of a viperous brood.
ΚΠ
1615 W. Hull Mirrour of Majestie 39 Sinne is a viperous brood: the life of the daughter, is the death of the mother.
1627 in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. (1659) 514 This forwardness of you is the more remarkable, when that Viperous Generation..do, at ease, with tooth and nail, essay to rend the Bowels of their Mother.
1648 Canterburie March B 2 Hence Viprous Brood! what make you heare, Who thus the Kingdomes Bowels teare?
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > [adjective] > having specific type of hair
snaky1567
viperous1633
weedy-haireda1821
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island xii. xxx. 166 Her viperous locks hung loose about her eares; Yet with a monstrous snake she them restrains.
3.
a. Of actions, qualities, etc.: Worthy of or befitting a viper; malignant, treacherous, venomous.Very common in the 17th cent.; now rare or archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > spitefulness > [adjective]
teenfulOE
atteryc1175
ondfula1200
maliciousa1250
doggedc1300
enviousc1330
venoma1350
spitous?a1366
despitousc1374
heinous?a1400
venomyc1400
sinister1411
sputousc1420
doggish?a1425
cankered?a1439
doggya1450
sinistrous1460
spity1481
despiteful1488
spiteful1490
despiteous?1510
viperious?1510
peevisha1522
maliceful1522
envyful1530
viperinec1540
viperous?1542
vipered1560
uncanny1596
dogged-sprighted1600
maliced1602
ill-minded1611
virulent1613
ill-hearteda1617
doleful1617
spitish1627
splenial1641
litherlya1643
venomsome1660
slim1674
viper1721
vipereal1750
viperish1755
vicious1825
waspish1855
viperian1866
viperan1877
cattish1883
catty1886
bitchy1928
?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors xxiii. sig. F8v How haue thei bewitched the parlament howse in making such vyperos actys as the beast of Rome neuer made him selfe?
1555 in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) III. App. xlvi. 142 Their wicked lyves, and viperouse behaviour toward the said bishope.
1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 252 The viperous malice of this Monkish broode.
1647 J. Hall Poems i. 27 Wee'l suffer viperous thoughts and cares To follow after silver hairs.
a1650 Trial Sir Walter Raleigh (BL Sloane MS 3079) f. 32 I want words sufficient to Express thy viperous Treasons.
a1716 R. South Serm. Several Occasions (1744) X. 285 Let us now see into how many cursed consequences, this viperous piece of villany is like to spread itself.
1824 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 399 Passions so vehement and viperous.
b. Of language, writings, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > [adjective] > strong, sulphurous (of language)
untowen13..
largea1413
thundering1543
viperous1605
luscious1614
peppering1712
rough1750
unquotable1821
sulphurous1828
piercent1829
unrepeatable1831
bituminous1878
sultry1891
unprintable1898
four-letter1923
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > offensiveness > [adjective] > of thing
viperous1605
1605 W. Camden Remaines ii. 34 Vpon Stigand..I finde this most viperous Epitaph in an old Manuscript.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iii. iv. 39 'Tis Slander,..whose tongue Out-venomes all the Wormes of Nyle... Kings, Queenes, and States,..nay the Secrets of the Graue This viperous slander enters. View more context for this quotation
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 3 The viperous murmurings of miscreant villaines.
1728 P. Walker Life A. Peden (1827) 270 This is a viporous, groundless wicked Story.
1809–10 S. T. Coleridge Friend (1865) 58 In one of those viperous journals, which deal out profaneness, hate, fury, and sedition throughout the land.
1860 J. L. Motley Hist. Netherlands (1868) I. ii. 37 Wit..expended in darting viperous epigrams at Court-ladies.
1905 Athenæum 12 Aug. 217/1 Lockhart was..annoyed..especially by the viperous notes from a Whig hand.
4. † b. In allusive use (see viper n. 3a). Obsolete.
a. Of the nature of a viper; resembling a viper in character or action; having the attributes or evil qualities of a viper.Frequently in the 17th cent.; now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > offensiveness > [adjective]
bysenc1375
offensivea1548
nasty1548
beastly1584
whelpish1586
heathenish1592
viperous1593
vermin1602
verminousc1616
unchristian1630
verminian1640
rancida1646
verminly1653
spider-like1655
exceptionable1691
skunky1842
slaggy1943
schmucky1952
grotty1964
grody1965
1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation Ded. sig. ***2v Good Sir, arise, and confound those Viperous Cryticall monsters.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. i. 288 Speake breefely then, For we are peremptory to dispatch This Viporous Traitor. View more context for this quotation
1621 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1618–21 (1906) 347 These viprous, dessemblinge, and crockadillike currs.
1680 Spirit of Popery 24 The Viperous Author of the Reformed Bishop.
1766 H. Brooke Fool of Quality II. viii. 6 No step-dames, nor viperous instruments, shall ever hereafter insinuate between us.
1821 P. B. Shelley Adonais xxxvi. 19 What deaf and, viperous murderer could crown Life's early cup with such a draught of woe?
ΚΠ
1603 J. Davies Microcosmos 138 Woe woorth such vip'rous Cousins that wil rend Their Mothers wombe (the Common-wealth) to raigne.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iii. i. 73 Ciuill dissention is a viperous Worme, That gnawes the Bowels of the Common-wealth. View more context for this quotation
1648 Hunting of Fox 11 Such viperous Schismaticks as would eate out their way.
1652 E. Benlowes Theophila xii. ix. 220 'Twas vip'rous Nero slew his own indulgent Mother.
c. figurative. Of things.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > specifically of actions, thoughts, etc.
illc1175
unholyc1384
unhallowed1591
viperous1850
1850 W. Wordsworth Prelude ix. 263 The stings of viperous remorse, Trying their strength, enforced him to start up, Aghast and prayerless.
1880 Sat. Rev. No. 1311. 734/1 Considering how much damage these viperous little craft are likely to do in war.
1885 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche ii. x. 18 A savage beast, The viperous scourge of gods and humankind.
Derivatives
rare.
ˈviperously adv. in or after the manner of a viper; venomously.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > spitefulness > [adverb]
despitouslyc1320
maliciouslya1325
doggedlyc1380
spitouslya1387
venomly1387
spitousc1400
enviouslyc1430
venomously1449
sputouslyc1450
evilfullyc1475
despitefully1487
despiteouslya1500
unhappily1509
peevishly?1529
spitefully1532
cankeredly1535
viperiously1538
malignly1543
sinisterlyc1550
doggishly1576
cankerly1580
viperously1587
sinistruouslya1615
despitely1619
viciously1841
dolefully1880
cattishly1913
cattily1924
bitchily1938
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > spite, malice > [adverb]
maliciouslya1325
despitouslyc1374
doggedlyc1380
spitouslya1387
venomly1387
spitousc1400
venomously1449
sputouslyc1450
evilfullyc1475
despitefully1487
despiteouslya1500
enviously1508
unhappily1509
peevishly?1529
spitefully1532
cankeredly1535
viperiously1538
malignly1543
sinisterlyc1550
to spite (one)a1575
doggishly1576
cankerly1580
viperously1587
sinistruouslya1615
despitely1619
waspishly1684
viciously1841
waspily1854
dolefully1880
cattishly1913
cattily1924
bitchily1961
bitchingly1970
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. 419/1 In that copious treatise hauing spoken as maliciouslie & viperouslie as he might..of Wickliffes life.
1648 J. Beaumont Psyche iii. clxxvii. 39 How doe the peevish and reluctant Elves (Mad with their own birth,) Viperously contend The labouring bowells of the Heart to rend!
1649 W. Cokayne Fovnd. Freedome Vindicated 1 Whose seeming sugered words are mixed with wormwood, promising fairnesse, but viperously stinging the poore despised Army.
1728 P. Walker Life A. Peden (1827) p. xxv Mr. William Vetch,..in his dotted old Age, wrote so viporously and maliciously against him.
ˈviperousness n. viperous nature or character; venomosity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > spitefulness > feeling of spite > [noun]
ondeeOE
teenOE
envyc1300
malicea1325
eftc1325
maugrec1330
spitec1330
malignec1475
wrokea1500
doggedness1530
despitefulness1535
cankeredness1538
venomy1548
livor1589
doggishness1622
viperousness1651
Schadenfreude1895
bitchery1936
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > spite, malice > [noun]
ondeeOE
evestOE
teenOE
hatingOE
envyc1300
eftc1325
maugrec1330
spitec1330
malicea1382
despitec1400
unkindnessc1400
malignec1475
wrokea1500
doggedness1530
despitefulness1535
cankeredness1538
venomy1548
livor1589
doggishness1622
viperousness1651
acid1768
Schadenfreude1895
bitchery1936
1651 Animadversions in C. Love Case 37 Is it possible that such virulency and viperousness of words as these should proceed from any other Principle?
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Viperousness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1535