serpentine

English

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serpentine

Wikipedia

Etymology

From Middle English serpentine, from Old French serpentin, from Latin serpentīnus, from serpēns (“serpent”), equivalent to serpent +‎ -ine.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɜː.pənˌtaɪn/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsɝ.pənˌtaɪn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)pəntaɪn

Adjective

serpentine (comparative more serpentine, superlative most serpentine)

1. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes.
2. Of, or having attributes associated with, the serpent referred to in the book of Genesis in the Bible, such as craftiness or deceitfulness.

   The wily criminal was known for his serpentine behavior.

3. Having the form or shape of a snake.

   Synonym: ophidian

   There are serpentine species of lizards which do not have legs.

4. Curving in alternate directions; sinuous.

   Synonyms: sinuous, tortuous, winding

   The serpentine path through the mountains was narrow and dangerous.

   • 1855, Robert Browning, “Andrea del Sarto. (Called ‘the Faultless Painter.’)”, in Men and Women , volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, , →OCLC, page 2:

     So! keep looking so— / My serpentining beauty, rounds on rounds!

   • 1950 December, E. M. Patterson, “An Ulster Round Trip”, in Railway Magazine, page 802:

     Between Magherafelt and Macfin its length of 29¼ miles made a rather serpentine line on the map, as it attempted to serve the rather scattered towns and villages that lie between the River Bann and the Dungiven Mountains.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

serpentine (plural serpentines)

1. Any of several plants believed to cure snakebites.
2. (historical) An early form of cannon, used in the 16th century.
3. A kind of firework.
4. A coiled distillation tube.
5. (mathematics) Any of several related cubic curves; anguinea
6. (equestrianism) In dressage, a winding walk across on the arena.
7. (mineralogy) Any of several green/brown minerals consisting of magnesium and iron silicates that have similar layered crystal structure, whose appearance somewhat resembles a snake's skin.
   • 2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 394:

     It is reached by five-and-twenty steps of porphyry and serpentine.

8. (geology) An outcrop or region with soil and rock dominated by these minerals.

Hyponyms

• (mineral): antigorite, chrysotile, lizardite

Translations

Verb

serpentine (third-person singular simple present serpentines, present participle serpentining, simple past and past participle serpentined)

1. To serpentize; to turn or bend; to meander.
   • 1813, George Nicholson, The Cambrian Traveller's Guidey

     There were two little lakes, or rather large pools which stood in the bottom, whence issued a rivulet which serpentined in view for two or three miles, offering a pleasing relief to the eye.

   • 1912, William B. Simmons, “The First Tripper”, in Hamilton Literary Magazine, volume 47, page 123:

     The mountains were fully in their gorgeous autumn garb the next morning, as the train serpentined up and up toward the divide.

   • 2002 April 29, mixgreg, “Mountain Sledding”, in rec.sport.snowmobiles‎ (Usenet):

     Most great mountain riders carve up the slope, serpentining as he climbs up the mountain. A mountain rider will as he loses momentum will turn out a bit, reducing the angle of attack. He will continue carving switchbacks, using body english jumping from one side of his sled to the other, as he continues climbing higher and higher.

   • 2012 January 29, Hans-Georg Michna, “GPS getting you into trouble”, in alt.satellite.gps.garmin‎ (Usenet):

     At least one road here (the one serpentining up the mountain to Urfeld at the Walchensee) is prohibited for bicycles on weekends.

Further reading

• David Barthelmy (1997–2024) “Serpentine”, in Webmineral Mineralogy Database.
• “serpentine”, in Mindat.org‎, Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, 2000–2024.

Anagrams

• terpinenes

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɛʁ.pɑ̃.tin/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

serpentine

1. feminine singular of serpentin

Italian

Adjective

serpentine f pl

1. feminine plural of serpentino

Noun

serpentine f pl

1. plural of serpentina

Latin

Adjective

serpentīne

1. vocative masculine singular of serpentīnus