I.v. freq. n. and a. [id.], to creep, crawl (mostly poet. and postAug.; a favorite word with Claud.).
I. Neutr.
A. Lit., of animals and men, Plin. 9, 30, 50, § 95: “chamaeleon humi reptans,” Gell. 10, 12, 2: “anguis reptans,” Claud. III. Cons. Stil. 172; id. III. Cons. Hon. 22; id. Rufin. 1, 93; id. Eutr. 2, 443 al.—
B. Transf., of persons walking slowly or lazily: major pars populi aridi reptant fame, Plaut. Fragm. ap. Gell. 3, 3, 5.— “Of beasts: pecudes,” Lucr. 2, 318: “an tacitum silvas inter reptare salubris,” Hor. Ep. 1, 4, 4: “per limitem,” Plin. Ep. 1, 24, 4; 9, 26, 2.— “Of plants,” Plin. 19, 5, 24, § 69.—