1. to creep, crawl , Lat. serpo, repo, and generally to move slowly, walk , (Homer); of reports, to creep on, spread , like Lat. serpit rumor, (Sophocles Tragicus); ὁ πόλεμος ἑρπέτω let it take its course , (Aristophanes Comicus); of calamities, (Sophocles Tragicus) (ML)