Webster's English Dictionary

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serpent

ser.pent \'s*r-p*nt\ n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L serpent-, serpens, fr. prp. of 
   serpere to] often attrib creep; akin to Gk herpein to creep, Skt sarpati he 
   creeps archaic  1a: a noxious creature that creeps, hisses, or stings  1b: 
   SNAKE; esp : a large snake  2: DEVIL  3: a subtle treacherous malicious 
   person  4: an obsolete bass wind instrument made of wood