Lexic.us

Definition of Serpent

1. Noun. Limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous.

2. Noun. A firework that moves in serpentine manner when ignited.

3. Noun. An obsolete bass cornet; resembles a snake.

Definition of Serpent

1. n. Any reptile of the order Ophidia; a snake, especially a large snake. See Illust. under Ophidia.

2. v. i. To wind like a serpent; to crook about; to meander.

3. v. t. To wind; to encircle.

Definition of Serpent

1. Noun. A snake. ¹

2. Noun. (musical instruments) A musical instrument in the brass family, whose shape is suggestive of a snake (Wikipedia article). ¹

3. Verb. (obsolete) To wind; to encircle. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Serpent

1. a snake [n -S]

Medical Definition of Serpent

1. 1. Any reptile of the order Ophidia; a snake, especially a large snake. The serpents are mostly long and slender, and move partly by bending the body into undulations or folds and pressing them against objects, and partly by using the free edges of their ventral scales to cling to rough surfaces. Many species glide swiftly over the ground, some burrow in the earth, others live in trees. A few are entirely aquatic, and swim rapidly. See Ophidia, and Fang. 2. A subtle, treacherous, malicious person. 3. A species of firework having a serpentine motion as it passess through the air or along the ground. 4. The constellation Serpens. 5. A bass wind instrument, of a loud and coarse tone, formerly much used in military bands, and sometimes introduced into the orchestra; so called from its form. Pharaoh's serpent, mercuric sulphocyanate, a combustible white substance which in burning gives off a poisonous vapor and leaves a peculiar brown voluminous residue which is expelled in a serpentine from. It is employed as a scientific toy. Serpent cucumber, any species of African serpents belonging to the family Dendrophidae. Origin: F, fr. L. Serpens, -entis (sc. Bestia), fr. Serpens, p. Pr. Of serpere to creep; akin to Gr, Skr. Sarp, and perhaps to L. Repere, E. Reptile. Cf. Herpes. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Serpent

serous membranes serous meningitis serous otitis serous pericardium serous pleurisy serous retinitis serous synovitis serous tunic serovaccination serovar

serovars serow serows serozyme serpens serpent (current term) serpent-tongued serpent-worship serpent fern serpent star

serpent ulcer of cornea serpentaria serpentarius serpented serpentiform serpentigenous serpentiginous serpentine serpentine aneurysm serpentinely

Literary usage of Serpent

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Embracing by Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert Hauck (1911)
"Altogether aside from the great part played by the serpent in the mythology of the surrounding peoples and the certainty that this influenced the Hebrews, ..."

2. Journal of Theological Studies by Oxford Journals (Oxford University Press) (1906)
"Books and chapters on the serpent commonly bring together myths and legends impossible to ... The serpent is the author of evil, and yet there is an ..."

3. Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians by George Grove (1908)
"The serpent d'Église is still a recognised functionary in French ... The scale of the serpent is in the highest degree capricious, and indeed fortuitous. ..."

4. A Dictionary of the Bible: Comprising Its Antiquities, Biography, Geography by William Smith, John Mee Fuller (1893)
"What ihe modern name of this serpent is we have been unable to ascertain ; it is obvious, however, that either the Cerastes, or the Xain ln'je, ..."

5. Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature by John McClintock, James Strong (1883)
"He maintains that under the name serpent autan is meant, as there are "probable grounds fur the conclusion that tlte serpent was, during the earliest ages, ..."

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