Creep v. World English Historical Dictionary

Creep v. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1893, rev. 2025. Creep v. Pa. t. and pa. pple. crept. Forms: see below. [A common Teutonic strong vb.: OE. créopan = OS. criopan, OFris. kriapa (NFris. krepen, Satl. kriope), ON. krjúpa (Sw. krypa, Da. krybe):—OTeut. *kreupan. As with some other verbs of the same class (cf. BOW, BROOK, LOUT), the present has in some of the langs. ú for eu, as OLG. krúpan, MDu. crúpen, Du. kruipen, MLG., LG. and EFris. krûpen, MG. krûfen, kraufen. In OHG. replaced by chriohhan, MHG. and mod.Ger. kriechen, repr. a type kreukan, the relation of which to kreupan is uncertain.

1   The OTeut. conjugation was, pres. kreupan, pa. t. kraup, pl. krupun, pa. pple. krupan; whence OE. pres. créopan (3rd sing. críepp), pa. t. créap, pl. crupon, pa. pple. cropen. The OE. pres. créopan, ME. crēpen (close ē), has regularly given the modern creep; occasional ME. instances of crope are app. errors. The pa. t. sing. créap regularly gave ME. crêp (open ê), spelt also crepe, creep(e, which was in general use to the 15th c., and survives with short vowel in the dialectal crep. The plural crupon, crupe(n, became in the 13th c. cropen, crope, after the pa. pple.; and this passed also into the sing. as crope, the prevailing type of the tense to the 16th c., after which it gradually dropped out of literary use, though still widely used in English and U.S. dialects. In the northern dial., the form adopted in the 13th c. was crap (after the pa. t. of other classes), which is still Scotch. But already before 1400, weak forms creep-ed and crep-t, began to take the place of all these, the second of which has since 16th c. gradually attained to be the standard form, leaving crep, crope, crop, crup, crap, as only dialectal. The pa. pple. cropen continued till the 17th c. in literary use, and to the 19th c. in the northern dial. where the vowel is still short croppen, cruppen; in the south it became in 13th c. crope, also literary Eng. to the 18th c.; but a weak form crepid, creeped began to appear in the 14th c., and in the form crept, identical with the pa. t., has been the dominant form since the 16th c.]

2   A.  Illustration of Forms.

3   1.  Pres. tense. 1 créopan, críopan, (crýpan), 1–3 3rd sing. criep(e)ð; 2–4 creope(n, (kreope(n); 2–6 crepe(n, (3–6 crope, 4 cryepe); 4–5 krepe, 4–7 creepe, (6 creape), 7– creep, (Sc. 5– creip).

4 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gram., xxviii. (Z.), 170. Repo ic creope.

5 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 23. Hwa creopeð þer-in?

6 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 199. Þe neddre … criepeð … þureh nerewe hole.

7 a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 819. Þe fox can crepe [v.r. crope] bi þe heie.

8 c. 1305.  Edmund Conf., 107, in E. E. P. (1862), 73. Makede hire redi to kreopen in.

9 1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 475. Arys … and creop on kneos to þe croys.

10 1483.  Cath. Angl., 81. To Crepe, repere.

11 1570.  Levins, Manip., 70. To creepe, repere.

12 1583.  Hollyband, Campo di Fior, 137. Why creape you on the grounde?

13 1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 950. And swims or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flyes.

14   2.  Past tense. α. sing. 1–3 créap, 3 (creop), 3–5 crep, crepe, 4–5 creep(e, 9 dial. crep; pl. 1 crupon, 2–3 crupen.

15 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 394 (Bosw.). Heo creap betwux ðam mannum.

16 a. 1100.  O. E. Chron., an. 1083. Sume crupon under.

17 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 908. [He] com ant creap in ure.

18 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2924. Ðor crep a dragun.

19 1340–70.  Alisaunder, 1009. Þer crep oute an addre.

20 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 306. She creepe [v.rr. (MSS. 1435–75) creep, crepe, crep, crepte] in to the clerk.

21 1881.  Leicester Gloss., Crep, pt. and p.p., crept.

22   β. pl. 3–4 cropen, 3– crope; sing. 4 crop, croup, 5– crope (sing. & pl. 6 croape, dial. 7–9 crop, 9 crup).

23 c. 1275.  Lay., 18472. Somme hii crope [c. 1205 crupen] to þan wode.

24 c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., 170/2217. Heo … cropen al-so ase ametene al aboute.

25 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2303 (Cott.). Þaa wigurs croup þe warlau in.

26 c. 1420.  Avow. Arth., lxv. The caytef crope in-to a tunne.

27 1535.  Coverdale, 1 Sam. xiii. 6. They crope in to caues and dennes.

28 1572.  R. H., trans. Lauaterus’ Ghostes (1596), 207. Divers errours croape into the Church.

29 1606.  Birnie, Kirk-Buriall (1833), 14. Before the Kirk-buriall crop in.

30 1672.  Sir C. Wyvill, Triple Crown, 160. After three hours time, he crope quietly in again, whence he had come out.

31 a. 1734.  North, Exam., I. iii. § 144 (1740), 217. Another Witness crope out against the Lord Stafford.

32 1831.  Landor, Fra Rupert, Wks. 1846, II. 577. His dog soon crope betwixt us.

33 1883.  C. F. Smith, Southernisms, in Trans. Amer. Philol. Soc., 47. Crope, preterit and past participle of creep, is common among the negroes and poorer whites.

34   γ.  north. 3–9 crap, (4–5 crape).

35 c. 1205.  Lay., 29282. Þe sparewe innene crap.

36 c. 1450.  Henryson, Mor. Fab., 44. To an Caue he crape.

37 1513.  Douglas, Æneis, II. v. (iv.) 48. And crap in wnder the feit of the goddes.

38 a. 1605.  Montgomerie, ‘Since that the Hevins,’ 41. With my king in credit once I crap.

39 1795.  H. Macneill, Will & Jean, III. Gloamin … crap ower distant hill and plain.

40   δ.  4–5 creped, -id, crepped, (kreppet), 7–9 creeped, (4– Sc. creipit).

41 c. 1300.  K. Alis., 390. On hire bed twyes he leped, The thridde tyme yn he creped.

42 14[?].  Chaucer MS. [see B. 1].

43 1634.  Massinger, Very Woman, IV. iii. How the devil Creeped he into my head?

44 1807.  [see B. 1].

45 Mod. Sc.  A fox creepit [or crap] through the hole.

46   ε.  4– crept(e.

47 c. 1350.  Cursor M., 15388 (Fairf.). Cropped in him Sathanas [Trin. MS. crepte, Cott. crep, Gött. croupe].

48 c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2235. And crepten into a caue.

49 1548.  Hall, Chron., 169. Whereunto … [this] tended and crept up.

50 1632.  Lithgow, Trav., IV. (1682), 141. He crept in favour with Christians.

51 1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. § 9. 69. We crossed crevasses and crept round slippery ridges.

52   3.  Pa. pple. α. 1–7 (north. dial. –9) cropen, 5–6 Sc. croppin, croipin, (6 crepen, 9 north. dial. croppen, cruppen, Yorksh. creppen).

53 c. 1205.  Lay., 5671. Þa ilke þe aniht weoren atcropene.

54 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Frankl. T., 886. As thou … were cropen out of the ground.

55 1423.  James I., Kingis Q., clxxxii. Quho that from hell war croppin onys in hevin.

56 1481.  Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 17. He had cropen therein.

57 a. 1553.  Philpot, Wks. (1842), 336. Corruptions have crepen into the people.

58 1563.  Winȝet, Four Scoir Thre Quest., Wks. 1888, I. 132. Abuiss … croipin in the Kirk.

59 a. 1572.  Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 401. Frensche men ar croppin in of lait in our cuntrey.

60 1621.  Markham, Prev. Hunger (1655), 32. Cropen away and hidden.

61 1698.  Lister, in Phil. Trans., XX. 247. [They] would have cropen away.

62 1790.  Mrs. Wheeler, Westmrld. Dial. (1821), 23. Sic pride croppen intul Storth an Arnside.

63 1855.  Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Croppen or Cropen, crept. ‘Where hae ye gitten croppen to?’

64   β.  3–4 ycrope, ycrop, 3–8 crope, (4–5 crepe).

65 c. 1275.  Lay., 5671. Þat weren awei crope.

66 c. 1325.  Coer de L., 3473. In the erthe they wolde have crope.

67 c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 7229. Whider-ward were ye y-crope.

68 c. 1440.  Capgrave, Life St. Kath., III. 404. If he ware Crope thorow þe ȝate.

69 1595.  Markham, Sir R. Grinvile, To the fayrest, i. A Heauenlie fier is crope into my braine.

70 1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 71. The Lord speakes of those … despised men, crope out of captivity.

71 a. 1734.  North, Examen, 273 (D.). The Captain was just crope out of Newgate.

72   γ.  4–5 crepid, 7–9 creeped.

73 c. 1430.  Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 339 (Camb. MS.). He wende a crepid by hese felawe Ion [5 MSS. cropen, Harl. crope].

74 1761.  Hume, Hist. Eng., I. xvi. 396. Intestine faction had creeped into the Government of France.

75 Mod. Sc.  It has creepit oot.

76   δ.  6– crept.

77 1535.  Coverdale, 1 Macc. vi. 11. Some yt were crepte in to dennes.

78 1611.  Bible, Jude 4. There are certaine men crept in vnawares.

79 1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 195. Mahomet has a little crept among them.

80 1855.  Tennyson, Maud, III. vi. i. My life has crept so long on a broken wing.

81   4.  The Perfect Tense was formerly, as in go, come, etc., formed with be to express result: he is cropen or crept in.

82 c. 1205–1423.  [see 3 α above].

83 1534.  Tyndale, Jude 4. For ther are certayne craftely crept in.

84 1545.  Joye, Exp. Dan., vii. iij b. Oute of poore scoles & cloysters are these beggers cropen vp.

85 1650.  Earl Monm., trans. Senault’s Man bec. Guilty, 338. As soon as they are crope out from their Spring-head.

86 1706.  A. Bedford, Temple Mus., vii. 151. No Errors are crept into the … Text.

87 1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 57, ¶ 4. That Party-Rage which … is very much crept into their Conversation.

88 a. 1734.  [see 3 β.].

89   B.  Signification.

90   1.  intr. To move with the body prone and close to the ground, as a short-legged reptile, an insect, a quadruped moving stealthily, a human being on hands and feet, or in a crouching posture.

91   Formerly said of snakes, worms, and other creatures without limbs, for which crawl is now more usual, though in some cases either may be used: see CRAWL v.

92 c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvi. § 4. Oþer næfþ his fota ʓeweald þæt he mæʓe gan … and onginþ creopan [Bodl. MS. crypan] on ðone ilcan weʓ.

93 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 488 (Bosw.). Him comon to creopende fela næddran.

94 c. 1205.  Lay., 29313. Þe king him gon crepen an heonden and a futen.

95 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 339. He wende haue cropen [MS. Camb. crepid, Harl. crope] by his felawe Iohn, And by the Millere in he creepe [v.rr. creep, crape, crepede, crept] anon.

96 1413.  Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xxxiii. (1483), 82. The serpent … shold … crepe vpon his breste.

97 1598.  Shaks., Merry W., IV. ii. 59. Creepe into the Kill-hole.

98 1611.  Florio, Carponare, to creepe on all foure.

99 1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 213. Land Tortoyses, (so great that they will creepe with two mens burthens…).

100 1705.  Berkeley, Cave of Dunmore, Wks. IV. 509. We were forced to stoop, and soon after creep on our knees.

101 1735.  Somerville, Chase, III. 146. See there he [the fox] creeps along; his Brush he drags.

102 1807.  Robinson, Archæol. Græca, III. vi. 227. A person accused creeped on his hands through the fire.

103 1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 852. [There] the slow-worm creeps.

104   † b.  Proverbially contrasted with go (= ‘walk’).

105 c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvi. § 4. Se biþ mihtiʓra se ðe gæþ þonne se þe criepð [Bodl. MS. crypþ].

106 c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 267. The Dikes were so develye depe … Ouer cowde thai nothir goo nor crepe.

107 c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., 114. Kynde wille crepe Where it may not go.

108 1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 135. Children must learne to créepe ere they can go.

109 1663.  Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., 304. The most imperfect souls, who are not as yet able to go, but only to creep in the way to heaven.

110 1741.  Richardson, Pamela, III. 352. And besides, as the vulgar saying is, One must creep before one goes!

111 1836.  [Mrs. Traill], Backwoods of Canada, 57. I used to hear when I was a boy, ‘first creep and then go.’

112   † c.  To creep to the Cross (also to creep the Cross): spec. used of the Adoration of the Cross, in the Roman Service for Good Friday. Obs.

113 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 95. Crepe to cruche on lange fridai.

114 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 428. Ariseth … And crepeth to þe crosse on knees.

115 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., 269. Not as thouȝ thei crepiden thanne there to noon other thing saue to the Ymage, but that thei aftir her ymaginacioun crepiden to the persoon of Crist.

116 a. 1500.  Ratis Raving, II. 129. Nocht our oft creip the corss one kneis.

117 15[?].  in Boorde, Introd. Knowl. (1870), Introd. 92. The Usher to lay a Carpett for the Kinge to Creepe to the Crosse upon.

118 1554.  Bale, Declar. Bonner’s Articles (1561), D iv b. To creape to the crosse on good Fryday featly.

119 1586–92.  Warner, Alb. Eng., 115 (N.). We kiss the pix, we creepe the crosse, our beades we overrunne.

120 1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., III. iii. 73. To come as humbly as they vs’d to creepe To holy Altars.

121 1630.  J. Taylor, Wks. (N.). Because they would not creepe unto the crosse, And change Gods sacred Word for humane drosse.

122   2.  To move softly, cautiously, timorously or slowly; to move quietly and stealthily so as to elude observation; to steal (into, away, etc.).

123 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 23. And þer beo analpi holh þat an mon mei crepan in.

124 1393.  Gower, Conf., I. 198. This lady tho was crope a side As she, that wolde her selven hide.

125 c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VI. 627. Full law thai crap, quhill thai war out off sicht.

126 1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 6. The Fathers forsaking the Plough … began to creepe into the Toune.

127 1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vii. 146. The whining Schoole-boy … creeping like snaile Vnwillingly to schoole.

128 1705.  Addison, Italy, 9. We here took a little Boat to creep along the Sea-shore as far as Genoa.

129 1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., vii. 7. Like a guilty thing I creep At earliest morning to the door.

130 1873.  Black, Pr. Thule, xxv. 421. If this wind continues, we can creep up to-morrow to Loch Roag.

131   b.  Of things: To move slowly.

132 1650.  Fuller, Pisgah, II. x. 214. Where the brook Zorek creeps faintly out of the Tribe of Judah.

133 1752.  Young, Brothers, II. i. Go, fool, and teach a cataract to creep!

134 1867.  Whittier, Tent on Beach, xxiv. The mists crept upward chill and damp.

135 1878.  Huxley, Physiogr., 178, note. The sea-bottom over which the cold water creeps.

136   3.  fig. (of persons and things). a. To advance or come on slowly, stealthily, or by imperceptible degrees; to insinuate oneself into; to come in or up unobserved; to steal insensibly upon or over.

137 c. 1340.  Cursor M., 14147 (Trin.). Þat sekenes crepte to heued & fote.

138 c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 296. Þise newe ordris, þat ben cropen in wiþ-oute grounde.

139 c. 1430.  Hymns Virg. (1867), 84. Now age is cropen on me ful stille.

140 c. 1430.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. i. So ferre he was cropen into age.

141 1533.  Q. Cath. Parr, trans. Erasm. Commune Crede, 74 b. By unlawfull plesure crope in the death and destruction of mankynde.

142 1565.  Golding, Ovid’s Met., VI. (1593), 172. Sleepe upon my carefull carcasse crope.

143 1647–8.  Cotterell, Davila’s Hist. Fr. (1678), 19. These opinions … crept up, till they were universally embraced.

144 1702.  De Foe, Shortest Way w. Dissenters, in Arb., Garner, VII. 593. How they crope into all Places of Trust and Profit.

145 1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 61, ¶ 1. Among many Phrases which have crept into Conversation.

146 1837.  W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, I. 250. Despondency began to creep over their hearts.

147 1869.  Trollope, He knew, etc. liii. (1878), 293. When these sad weeks had slowly crept over her head.

148 1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 301. The licence of which you speak very easily creeps in.

149   b.  To move timidly or diffidently; to proceed humbly, abjectly, or servilely, to cringe; to move on a low level, without soaring or aspiring. Cf. CREEPING ppl. a.

150 1581.  Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 623. So lowe crope they on the ground, that when they heare the name of the Sabboth, they remember nothing but the seauenth day.

151 1596.  Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 614/1. When they are weary of warres … then they creepe a litle perhaps, and sue for grace.

152 1685.  Dryden, Pref. to Sylvæ, Ess. (Ker), I. 268 (J.). Am I … bound to maintain, that there are no flats amongst his elevations, when ’tis evident he [Milton] creeps along sometimes for above an hundred lines together?

153 1709.  Pope, Ess. Crit., 347. And ten low words oft creep in one dull line. Ibid. (1735), Prol. Sat., 333. Wit that can creep, and pride that licks the dust.

154 1782.  Cowper, Conversation, 145. Where men of judgment creep, and feel their way, The positive pronounce without dismay.

155 1856.  Emerson, Eng. Traits, Manners, Wks. (Bohn), II. 46. Don’t creep about diffidently.

156 1874.  Blackie, Self-Cult., 89. Where aspiration is wanting, the soul creeps.

157   4.  Of plants: To grow with the stem and branches extending along the ground, a wall, or other surface, and throwing out roots or claspers at intervals. b. Of roots or subterranean stems: To extend horizontally under ground.

158 1530.  Tindale, Pract. Prelates, Wks. 1849, II. 270. [Ivy] creepeth along by the ground till it find a great tree.

159 1580.  Baret, Alv., C 1597. To creepe, to run as rootes do in the ground, repo.

160 1672–3.  Grew, Anat. Plants, II. I. i. § 9. The Motions of Roots are … sometimes Level, as are those of Hops … and all such as properly Creep.

161 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 162. Cucumers along the Surface creep.

162 1717.  Pope, Eloisa, 243. Where round some mould’ring tow’r pale ivy creeps.

163 1837.  Dickens, Pickw., vi. Oh, a dainty plant is the Ivy green, That creepeth o’er ruins old!

164   † c.  Said of the ramification of blood-vessels, etc. Obs. Cf. CRAWL v. 4.

165 1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. xxviii. 67. Those [blood-vessels] which come from above do creep all the womb over.

166 1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), III. 97. As they [blood-vessels] creep along the side of the branches [of the horns].

167   d.  fig. To extend like a creeping plant.

168 1856.  Stanley, Sinai & Pal., i. (1858), 138. Vineyards creep along the ancient terraces.

169 1859.  Jephson, Brittany, iii. 24. Up this cliff creeps the town, capped by the fine old church of ‘Our Lady.’

170   5.  trans. = creep along or over. rare. (Cf. also creep the cross in 1 c.)

171 1667.  Milton, P. L., VII. 523. And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.

172 1727.  Dyer, Grongar Hill, 78. Whose ragged walls the ivy creeps.

173 1738.  Wesley, Hymns, ‘O Thou whose Wisdom,’ iii. The meanest Worm that creeps the Earth.

174 1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 130. Black clouds crept the southern hill.

175   6.  intr. Of the skin or flesh, less usually of the person himself: To have a sensation as of things creeping over the skin; to be affected with a nervous shrinking or shiver (as a result of fear, horror or repugnance).

176 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3567 (Cott.). Quen þat [he] sua bicums ald … It crepes crouland in his bak.

177 c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 2558. Whanne thou wenest for to slepe, So fulle of peyne shalt thou crepe.

178 1727.  Swift, Gulliver, III. vii. 223. Something in their countenances that made my flesh creep with a horror I cannot express.

179 1840.  Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xvii. You make my hair stand on end, and my flesh creep.

180 1879.  G. Meredith, Egoist, xxviii. (1889), 266. He had such an air of saying ‘Tom’s a-cold,’ that her skin crept in sympathy.

181 1882.  Mrs. Raven’s Tempt., I. 310. It makes me quite creep!

182   7.  Naut., etc. To drag with a creeper for anything at the bottom of the water.

183 1813–4.  Act 54 Geo. III., c. 159 § 10. No person … shall … creep or sweep for anchors [etc.] … supposed to be lost in any of the ports.

184 1830.  Marryat, King’s Own, ix. There the cargo is left, until they have an opportunity of going off in boats to creep for it, which is by dragging large hooks at the bottom until they catch the hawser.

185 1888.  T. Hardy, Wessex Tales, II. 143. When they have a chance they’ll go to creep for ’em.

186   8.  Of metal rails, etc.: To move gradually forward under the continuous pressure of heavy traffic in the same direction, or as a result of periodical expansion and contraction on a gradient.

187 1885.  Science, V. 344/2. In some places the rails move longitudinally or ‘creep.’ On long inclines or grades the track may creep down hill.

188 1887.  Engineer, LXIV. 9. Now I have the fish bolts loosened I am threatened with a creeping of the line.

189 1890.  Daily News, 31 Dec., 2/5. The very curious ‘creeping’ action of lead upon a roof was also shown by means of a model…. In the experiment the lead, first heated and then cooled, was made to creep a perceptible space.

190   9.  Coal-mining. To suffer a ‘creep.’

191 1851.  Greenwell, Coal-trade Terms Northumb. & Durh., 19. The softer the thill, the greater the liability to creep.

192 1861.  Trans. N. Eng. Inst. Min. Engineers, IX. 24. [It] had evidently brought on a heavy creep as shown on the section of crept bords.

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