serpent

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serpent First appears in the Bible in the J story of the creation (Gen. 2: 4–3: 24), as an explanation of human sinfulness. The serpent (not yet identified with Satan or the devil) is the tempter. Aaron was endowed with a power to change his staff into a serpent in order to bring pressure on Pharaoh (Exod. 7: 10). Moses had a ‘bronze serpent’ which possessed properties of healing (Num 21: 4–9), which is referred to again in John 3: 14–15. Paul also had an encounter with a snake, supposed to be poisonous (Acts 28: 1–6), though poisonous snakes are not now thought to have existed in Malta.

serpent term sometimes used to designate the larger species of snakes in mythology and folklore, a name often applied to any sinuous, crawling creature, chiefly to a snake. No sea serpents have been discovered to substantiate the legends about them, although some accounts, such as stories of the so-called Loch Ness monster in Scotland, have received wide publicity. Large squids, octopuses, whales, dolphins, seals, and other sea animals are sometimes described as sea serpents. In religion and art, the serpent sometimes symbolizes Satan (Rev. 20.2), or the phallus (see phallic worship ). See also dragon .

ser·pent / ˈsərpənt/ • n. 1. chiefly poetic/lit. a large snake. ∎  (the Serpent) a biblical name for Satan (see Gen. 3, Rev. 20). ∎  a dragon or other mythical snakelike reptile. ∎ fig. a sly or treacherous person, esp. one who exploits a position of trust in order to betray it. 2. hist. a bass wind instrument made of leather-covered wood in three U-shaped turns, with a cup-shaped mouthpiece and few keys. It was played in military and church bands from the 17th to 19th centuries.

serpent. Obsolete bass member of cornett family, 8′ long and roughly S-shaped, hence the name. Made of wood, sometimes of metal; had 6 fingerholes and sometimes keys. First introduced in Fr. towards end of 16th cent., where it was used in church to double male vv. Became popular military-band instr. and was in use in Eng. church bands to mid-19th cent. (mentioned by Thomas Hardy).

serpent scaly limbless reptile, snake XIV; wind instrument of wood shaped with three U-shaped turns XVIII. — (O)F. serpent :- L. serpēns, -ent-, sb. use of prp. of serpere creep, cogn. with Gr. hérpein, Skr. sárpati; see -ENT.
So serpentine XIV. — (O)F. — late L.; see -INE1.

serpent.
1. In Classical architecture, an emblem of healing, wisdom, and the Messenger (Hermes, St John, etc.), so part of the winged baton or caduceus.

2. Arranged in a circle, with tail in mouth, a serpent suggests immortality (see ouroboros).

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