serpō psī, ptus, ere
SERP-,
to creep, crawl
(of animals): serpere anguiculos: animalia, alia serpendo ad pastum accedunt:
imā vipera humo, O.: draco In
platanum, O.—Of things,
to move slowly, pass imperceptibly, creep along, proceed gradually
: Ister tectis in mare serpit aquis, O.:
vitis serpens multiplici lapsu: tempora circum hederam tibi
serpere, V.: cancer,
O.—Fig.,
to creep, crawl, extend gradually, grow imperceptibly, m<*>e way
stealthily, spread abroad, increase, prevail
: <*>eque enim serpit, sed volat in optimum
statum res p.: serpet hoc malum longius quam putatis: ne latius serperet res,
L.: serpit hic rumor: per agmina murmur,
V.—Rarely of a person: serpere occulte coepisti nihil dum aliis
suspicantibus.—Of style,
to crawl, be low
: (poëta) Serpit humi tutus, H.
