Middle English Dictionary Entry
serpent n.
Entry Info
| Forms | serpent n. Also serpente, sarpent & (error) serperpent. |
| Etymology | OF serpent, sarpent & serpente & L serpens, -entis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A serpent, snake; also, a reptile; also, a scorpion; ~ skin, snakeskin; serpentes fel, a protective garment made of snakeskin; fired ~, a fiery serpent; (b) a venomous snake, viper, an asp; also, a venomous dragon or lizard; (c) a snake, usu. venomous, used in medicinal preparations against leprosy; (d) any of various serpents and reptilian monsters of Greek and Roman literature, the hydra, Python, Gorgon, etc.; also, a snake or monster whose look can kill; (e) a representation of a serpent or dragon; the bronze serpent made by Moses [cp. Num.21.8, 9]; (f) a protective garment made of snakeskin, worn like a coat of mail.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)31 : Þer nis serpent, wolf, no fox.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)148.10 : Bestes & al maner of bestes, serpentes, & feþered foules herieþ our Lord.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4541 : He was þanne to-be-toȝe body & heued y-same With an hard crested serpentis fel, On which non eged tol ne may no del With no strok entame.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 11.11 : If he axith fysch, wher he schal ȝyue to him a serpent [L serpentem] for the fysch?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4710 : From under thalter sodeinly An hidous Serpent openly Cam out and hath devoured al The Sacrifice.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.512 : Right as a serpent hit hym vnder floures Til he may se his tyme for to byte, Right so this god of loues ypocrite Dooth so his cerymonyes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)266b/b : Alle kynde of serpentes and addres þat by kynde may wrappe and folde his owne body hatte anguis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)298a/a : The serpent haþ þat name serpens of serpere, to crepe, for he crepeþ wiþ priuy pases and..wiþ fondynges of schales.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Num.21.6 : The Lord sente firid serpentis [WB(1): eddres afier; L ignitos serpentes] in to the puple.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)12.125 : A serpent skyn doon on this tre men lette Auaylaunt be to saue hit in greet hete.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3707 : To þe ȝatis of Caspy he come..A lande..a large & a noble, All sauand bot serpentis & oþire sere bestis.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1233/17 : The kynge thought there was undir hym..an hydeous depe blak watir, and therein was all maner of serpentis and wormes and wylde bestis.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)195 : Sodainly Arrectis, serpentis so named, with sharpe tailes, to shepherdis Iugement cald scorpiouns..to the castels evenflowed vnnumerable.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)61 : Moyses..comaunded before Kynge Pharaon that hys serpent schuld destroye þe serpentes that wer made by art magyque.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)57.4 : Her wirship is efter þe wickednes of þe serpent, as of aspide def and stoppand his eren.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.463 : A Serpent [L gloss: serpens], which that Aspidis Is cleped..the Ston..Carbuncle..Berth in his hed.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)267b/b : In arabia beþ serpentes wiþ wynges and beþ y-cleped syrene..and here venyme is so stronge þat deþ comeþ..tofore ache.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)282a/b : The Dragoun hatte draco and is most huge of alle serpentes [L serpentum]..and grieueþ boþe wiþ bytyng and with styngyng, and haþ nouȝt so moche venyme as oþere serpentz.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.49.17 : Dan be maad a serpent [WB(1): eddre; L coluber] in the weie and cerastes in the path, and bite the feet of an hors, that the stiere therof falle bacward.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)85/16 : Euridice..was biten wiþ a serpente þat was hid vndir þe grasse, of þe which the mayden diede.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)60 : Drinke sotherenwode and it wole destroie þe venym of serpentes.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7716 : Ther ys addere nor serpent So dredful nor malycyous As ys A Tonge venymous.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)277 : She sette to hire pappis þe serpentis; And whan þat þei felte warme, þei sette hire feet in to hire flessh..and she was so venemyd..that..she dayde.
- a1500 Leg.Cross BC(1) (Wor F.172)217 : Whan any of the host wer smyten of any serpent or of any other venemous worm hurt, cam to the prophete and kissed the roddis, was made holl.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)298a/a : Þe serpent hideþ lepra and is y-ete for to hele þat yuel þat it be not y-knowe.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)384/23 : Þe curatyf rule..haþ foure entenciouns..The þridde is fulfilled with due admynistracioun of serpentes and drynkes.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)385/10 : Þe forsaide entenciouns..I schal sette..in 8 capitles..The sexte, of þe rewle of serpentes [*Ch.(1): splentez; L serpentium].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)387/35 : The flesche of þe serpent þat hiȝte vipera or tyrus..is of the beste medecynes.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)388/3 : Be þe serpentes..ichosen..of drye places with a blakke bakke, and bynde ham toward þe hede and þe tayle..and..flee ham and wasshe ham.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)388/11 : For..we haue none oþer waye in þe helynge of leprouse men after þe clensynge of þe body but in serpentes.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)388/36 : Salte made of the serpent vipera is helpynge.
d
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3295 : Hercules..slow the verray serpent venymus.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3514 : Upon the grene Ther goth the flees of gold to kepe A Serpent, which mai nevere slepe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4127 : Cimpheius the Serpent To hire hath alle his scales lent..And sche to builen caste hem in.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)267a/b : Ydra is a serpent wiþ many heedes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)298b/a : Serene ben serpentes with crestes, And some men seyn þat þey are fisshes of þe see in liknesse of wommen.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.300 : Who so wolde..This Ram of golde wynnen..moste..endure With a serpent..Þe wiche..Was lyche a fende comen out of helle, Ful of venym and of cruel hate.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5457 : Phebus..slowȝ..Þe grete serpent..And of Pheton..Com Phetonysses.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1497 : Of the holy serpent and the welle And of the furies, al she gan hym telle.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)67/23 : Kepe the wel fro serpent Gorgon; Bewar þat thou loke not him vppon.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1249 : Summe off thise serpentys, the eyn so venymmus be That with her loke thei slee yche erthly creature, As thise cokatrycys.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)21 : Hercules..slow the serpent clepit Ydra.
e
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 3.14 : Moyses reride vp a serpent in desert.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Num.21.8 : Make thou a serpent [L serpentem] of bras and sette thou it for a signe.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)4 Kings 18.4 : Ezechie..brak the brasun serpent, whom Moyses hadde maad.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)141/26 : At iiij corneres of the mountour ben iiij serpentes [Man.(2): dragouns; F serpentz] of gold.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)5770 : In hys blasoun, verrayment, Was jpayntyd a serpent.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)433/24 : Þer was a knygh[t]..hym happend..to lose a sakett and a thowsand talentis þerin and a serpent of gold.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.9 (Hrl 2169)167 : A beryth asewre iij serpentys, hedys of gold rasyd, the tongys of gold crosletwyse.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)79/1 : Vaspasian..sette themperial baner aboue with the dragon of gold aboue thappul of gold..and in his throte xij arrows, and held vndir his fete a swerd..The taile of the which serpent..betokend the highnesse..of thempire.
f
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9256 : Arthour smot to king Rion..To þe purpoint of o serpent [F serpent], Next his schert þat sat þo, Elles he hadde him coruen ato.
2.
(a) With ref. to Gen.3.1-5: the serpent in the Garden of Eden; (b) Lucifer, Satan, the devil; the serpentes venim, sin.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Þe grace of god (Hrl 913)51 : A serpent he com þroȝ felonie And makid Eue chonge hir þoȝt.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I 326 : Looke..how that the serpent that was moost wily of alle othere bestes..seyde to the womman, [etc.].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.285 : Þow..in semblaunce of a serpent [vr. Nedder] sat on þe appeltre And eggedest hem to ete, Eue by hir-selue.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.3.1 : The serpent [WB(1): edder; L serpens] was feller than alle lyuynge beestis of erthe which the Lord God hadde maad.
- a1425 Methodius(1) (Hrl 1900)94/11 : God..cleped þe names of hem Adam & Eue, whiche afterward by disseyte of þe serpent bigyled, þei beþ cast out virgyns of Paradise.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.1117 : Our said fadir beyng in paradis..of foli wrongli gaff assent To be gouernid bi a fals serpent.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)183 : The fend..As a serpent soyn was he sent, with woman face full fayr and clere.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)45/8 : Lucifere..toke to hym the fourme of a serpent..and clepid Eue.
- a1500 15c.Serm.Cycle(Hrl 2247:Powell)98/4 : Aftir þat oure forn fadir Adam..obeyed to þe suggestion of þe serpent, anon he was drevyn oute of..paradise.
b
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.96 : Þan þe serpent sent out at his mouþe a watere as it were a flood..And þe erþe..swelewed in þe flood þat þe dragoun sent out.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prols.Esd.(Dc 369(1))2.478 : Thof the serpentt hisse, and the ouercomere, if he throwe not brennyngus vp, neuer my speche shal be stille.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.12.9 : The ilke dragoun is cast doun, the greet olde serpent that is clepid the Deuel.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.137 : For youre synne ye ben woxen..foode of the false serpent perpetuel.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1748 : Oure firste foo, the serpent Sathanas..hath in Iewes herte his waspes nest.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6933 : Þat an evele chaunce Come þeis false goddes..And her statues..In whiche þe serpent & þe olde snake Sathan hym silf gan his dwellinge make.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)377/19 : Off Adamys synne was wasshe away the rust Be vertu only off this lambys blood, The serpentys venym, and al flesshly lust.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)43.472 : Vnderstonde thou Myht here that god þe serpent [F sierpent] Ouercam..be his deth vppon the Croys.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)141/12 : Virginite..hath broke þe hede of þe serpent.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)359/133 : What nedith it to fere you, empres so hende, syn be the fruth of youre body was convycte his vyolens, that horible serpent dar not nyhyn youre kende.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)40 : Such foode..hath dyssoluyde mankynde from þe bytter bonde Of þe mortall enmye, þat vemynousse serpente, From þe wyche Gode preserue yow all at þe last jugement!
3.
Fig. (a) Something treacherous, deceitful, or malicious; ~ of age, forgetting of the past; (b) a deceitful or treacherous person; a deceitful tongue; (c) as a symbol of cunning or wisdom.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.156 : The..serpent of age by processe Engendred is fersly vs tassaille Of the trouth to make vs for to faille.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4506 : Lo, how þe serperpent [read: serpent] of discord can glyde..To voide away boþ hap and grace, Whiche is venym of dissencioun.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.837 : O thow wikked serpent, jalousie, Thow mysbyleved and envyous folie, Why hastow Troilus mad to me untriste That nevere yet agylt hym, that I wiste?
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2231 : Whan the serpent off newfangilnesse Assailith you, doth your auauntage Contraire to Dido.
- c1480(1422) Lydg.SD (Add 48031)50/1 : Þe while they were of oon herte..the noblesse of Rome flovred in prosperite, but..the contagious Serpent of Division eclipsed and appalled their worthines.
- c1460 Lydg.TB Chapt.Headings (Roy 18.D.2)p.175 : Howe kynge Priamus..by þe serpente Of Envye was stirede..to bygyne A newe werre vpone the Grekes.
- a1500 Counsels Isidor (Hrl 1706)368 : Whan a schrewed þouȝte towecheþ þee, consent not to hyt; kylle þe serpent whane he fyrste apereþ, trede a-downe þe serpentys hede.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.23.33 : Ȝee sarpentis [L Serpentes], fruytis, or buriownyngus of eddris, that sleen her modris, hou shulen ȝee flee fro the dom of helle?
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.187 : To his herte his tonge was contrarie: Benyngne of speche, of menyng a serpente.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2879 : Menoun..gan to speke To Achilles..O þou traitour, o þou scorpioun! O þou serpent, ful of trecherie!
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6042 : Calchas..Þis sleiȝti serpent..And fynder-vp of tresoun and of gyle, Compassid hath and y-founde a wyle How þe Grekis shal þe cite wynne.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)477 : Abbeys & colleges ben hordis of synne..dennes of þeues & nestis of serpentis.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.107 : Tho sarpent of iniquite..Thi venym dareth and thi falsnes, O thou tyrant, O roote of cursednes, Thou Herode of malice most mortall.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.10.16 : I sende ȝou as sheep in to the mydil of wolues; therfore be ȝe war, or wijse before, as serpentis, and symple as dowues.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)239/25 : This Edmund, when he was kynge in Engelond, he was..wyse as the serpent.
4.
(a) Lapid. serpentes tonge, =lange serpent n.; (b) astrol. the constellation Scorpio.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.79 : Crapadoune, ne serpentes townge, ne many of oþer stones to þe wych god haþe ȝeuen vertu, be not ynoumbred amonge þe..stones befor nemed.
b
- c1440 *Astron.Cal.[OD col.] (Ashm 391) : Whan þe moone is in Scorpio, þat is þe signe of a serpent.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)1497 : My blissid lord…Only bi mercy, bi his gracious avis, Off the trespace to make redempcion, Touchyng the appil which in paradis Adam ete of bi fals suggestion Of a serpent.
Note: Additional quote(s)