serpō psī, ptus, ere
SERP-, to creep, crawl (of animals): serpere anguiculos: animalia, alia serpendo ad pastum accedunt: imā vipera humo, O.: draco In platanum, O.—Of things, to move slowly, pass imperceptibly, creep along, proceed gradually : Ister tectis in mare serpit aquis, O.: vitis serpens multiplici lapsu: tempora circum hederam tibi serpere, V.: cancer, O.—Fig., to creep, crawl, extend gradually, grow imperceptibly, make way stealthily, spread abroad, increase, prevail : neque enim serpit, sed volat in optimum statum res p.: serpet hoc malum longius quam putatis: ne latius serperet res, L.: serpit hic rumor: per agmina murmur, V.—Rarely of a person: serpere occulte coepisti nihil dum aliis suspicantibus.—Of style, to crawl, be low : (poëta) Serpit humi tutus, H.