rēpo, psi, ptum, 3, v. n. [Gr. ἕρπω; Sanscr. root sarp-, creep; cf. Lat. serpo, serpens], to creep, crawl (cf. serpo).
I Lit.
1 Of animals: repens animans, Lucr. 3, 388: cochleae inter saxa, Sall. J. 93, 2: millipeda, Plin. 29, 6, 39, § 136: formica, id. 37, 11, 72, § 187: muraenae, id. 9, 20, 37, § 73: volpecula, Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 29 dub.: elephas genibus in catervas, Plin. 8, 7, 7, § 20 et saep.—
2 Of creeping children, Quint. 1, 2, 6; Stat. Th. 9, 427.—
3 Of other persons in gen.: quā unus homo inermis vix poterat repere, Nep. Hann. 3 fin. : super altitudinem fastigii (templi), Plin. 22, 17, 20, § 44: Pyrrho regi, quo die periit, praecisa hostiarum capita repsisse, id. 11, 37, 77, § 197.—
B Transf., to creep , crawl , of persons travelling slowly: milia tum pransi tria repimus, Hor. S. 1, 5, 25.—Of persons swimming: qui flumen repunt, Arn. 1, 20.— Of cranes slowly stalking, Enn. ap. Serv. Verg. G. 3, 76 (Ann. v. 545 Vahl.).—Of boats moving slowly along: aequore in alto ratibus repentibus, Poet. (Enn.?) ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 23 Müll. (cf. Enn. p. 87 Vahl.; Trag. Rel. p. 292 Rib.).—Of water flowing slowly: aqua palustris, quae pigro lapsu repit, Col. 1, 5, 3.— Of clouds, Lucr. 6, 1121.— Of fire: ignis per artus, Lucr. 6, 661.—Of plants, Col. Arb. 4 fin. ; 16, 4: genus cucurbitarum, quod humi repit, Plin. 19, 5, 24, § 70; 22, 22, 39, § 82.—Of movable towers, Luc. 3, 458.—Of the stealthy advance of a snare, Stat. S. 1, 2, 60.—
II Trop.: sermones Repentes per humum, i. e. low , common , mean , Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 251.