• n. 蛇（尤指大蛇或毒蛇）；狡猾的人

来自古法语 serpent,蛇，来自拉丁语 serpens,蛇，爬行生物，来自 serpere,爬行，来自 PIE*serp, 爬行，词源同 herpetology,herpes.

serpent

serpent: [14] The serpent is etymologically a ‘crawling’ animal. The word comes via Old French serpent from Latin serpēns, a noun use of the present participle of serpere ‘crawl, creep’. This was a close relative of Greek hérpein ‘creep’, from which English gets herpes [17] (etymologically the ‘creeping’ disease) and herpetology ‘study of reptiles’ [19].
=> herpes

serpent (n.)

c. 1300, "limbless reptile," also the tempter in Gen. iii:1-5, from Old French serpent, sarpent "snake, serpent" (12c.), from Latin serpentem (nominative serpens) "snake; creeping thing," also the name of a constellation, from present participle of serpere "to creep," from PIE *serp- "to crawl, creep" (cognates: Sanskrit sarpati "creeps," sarpah "serpent;" Greek herpein "to creep," herpeton "serpent;" Albanian garper "serpent").

Used figuratively of things spiral or regularly sinuous, such as a type of musical instrument (1730). Serpent's tongue as figurative of venomous or stinging speech is from mistaken medieval notion that the serpent's tongue was its "sting." Serpent's tongue also was a name given to fossil shark's teeth (c. 1600).

1. He felt as if a serpent had spat venom into his eyes.

他感觉就像有一条蛇朝自己的双眼里喷射了毒液。

来自柯林斯例句

2. The serpent fascinated its prey.

这条蛇震慑住了它要捕食的动物.

来自《简明英汉词典》

3. There's a serpent beside him.

他身边有条大蛇.

来自《简明英汉词典》

4. Don't believe him, he is a serpent.

别相信他, 他是个狡猾的家伙.

来自《简明英汉词典》

5. We have had a grand voyage and seen a sea - serpent.

我们的航行非常棒.我们看到了 海蛇.

来自英汉非文学 - 民俗