Creep1, v. i.
v. i. [imp. CREPT (CROPE, obs.); p. p. CREPT; p. pr. & vb. n. CREEPING.] [A-S. creopan, O. Sax. criopan, L. Ger. krupen, D. krupen, Icel. kriupa, Sw. krypa, Dan. krybe; Ger. kriechen, O. H. Ger. kriuchan, kriohhan.]
Sense 1. To move along on the ground or on any other surface, as a worm or reptile does; to move as a child does on its hands and knees; to crawl.
*Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep, Witness if I be silent.* Milton.
Sense 2. To move slowly, feebly, or timorously, as from unwillingness, fear, weakness, or old age.
*The whining school-boy . . . creeping, like snail, Unwillingly to school.* Shak.
Who would think, when he sees a little spring-head, and beholds the narrowness of its circle, its quiet bubblings and small emissions, that by that time this little thing had crope three or four miles off, it should be spacious in its breadth . . . and bear its conquering stream over dams and locks, and all opposition? South.
Sense 3. To move in a stealthy or unobserved manner; to move secretly, or so as to escape detection or suspicion; to steal in; to insinuate one’s self. “The sophistry which creeps into most of the books of argument.” Locke.
*To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.* Shak.
Let the sounds of music creep in our ears. Shak.
*Such as, for their bellies’ sake, Creep and intrude, and climb into the fold.* Milton.
Sense 4. To move or behave with servility; to fawn; as, a creeping sycophant.
Sense 5. To grow, as a vine, clinging to the ground or to some other means of support.
Creeping vines on arbors weaved around. Dryden.
Sense 6. To have the sensation as of insects creeping on the skin of the body.