serpentine

See also Serpentine

English

WOTD – 24 July 2007    

Wikipedia

Etymology 1

From Latin serpentīnus, from serpēns (“serpent”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈsəːpəntaɪn/
• (US) IPA: /ˈsɚːpəntaɪn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)pəntaɪn

Adjective

serpentine (comparative more serpentine, superlative most serpentine)

1. Sinuous; curving in alternate directions.

   The serpentine path through the mountains was narrow and dangerous.

2. Having the shape or form of a snake.

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

3. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes.
4. Of, or having attributes associated with, the mythological serpent, such as craftiness or deceitfulness.

   The wily criminal was known for his serpentine behavior.

Synonyms

• (sinuous, curving): sinuous, tortuous, winding
• (having the form of a snake): ophidian

Translations

sinuous, curving

• Finnish: kiemurteleva (fi), mutkitteleva (fi), mutkikas (fi)
• German: gewunden (de), sich schlängelnd (de)

• Russian: змеевидный (ru) (zmejevidnyj)

having the form of a snake

• Finnish: käärmemäinen (fi)
• German: schlangenförmig (de)

• Manx: aarnieuagh (gv)
• Russian: змеиный (ru) (zmeinyj), змееподобный (ru) (zmejepodobnyj)

of, pertaining to, or characteristic of snakes

• Finnish: käärmemäinen (fi)

• Manx: aarnieuagh (gv)

crafty, deceitful

• Finnish: juonikas (fi)

Noun

serpentine (plural serpentines)

1. Any of several plants believed to cure snakebites.
2. An early form of cannon.
3. A coiled distillation tube.

Translations

plant believed to cure snakebites

an early form of cannon

• Spanish: serpentín m

coiled distillation tube

Verb

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

1. (archaic) To serpentize; to turn or bend; to meander.
   • Lord Lyttelton

     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.

Etymology 2

Serpentine (mineral)

From resemblance to a serpent's skin.

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈsɜːpəntaɪn/
• (US) IPA: /ˈsɝːpəntin/, /ˈsɝːpəntaɪn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)pəntaɪn

Adjective

serpentine (comparative more serpentine, superlative most serpentine)

1. (geology, botany) Of or characteristic of serpentine rocks or the plants that grow there.

Translations

of or characteristic of serpentine rocks or the plants that grow there

Noun

serpentine (plural serpentines)

1. (mineralogy) Any of several green/brown minerals consisting of a magnesium and iron silicates.
2. (mineralogy) Any of many minerals that have the same layered crystal structure.
3. (geology) An outcrop or region with soil and rock dominated by these minerals.
4. (organic chemistry) An indole alkaloid found in Rauwolfia.

Translations

green/brown mineral consisting of magnesium and iron silicates

• Finnish: serpentiini (fi)
• German: Schlangenstein (de) m

• Italian: serpentino (it) m
• Spanish: serpentina (es) f

mineral with the same layered crystal structure

outcrop or region with soil and rock dominated by these minerals

See also

• antigorite
• chrysotile
• lizardite

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Italian

Adjective

serpentine f

1. Feminine plural form of serpentino

Noun

serpentine f

1. Plural form of serpentina

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Latin

Adjective

serpentīne

1. vocative masculine singular of serpentīnus