ENGLISH
REFERENCE

serpentine

adj.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈsɝpənˌtaɪn// UK //sˈɜːpɪntˌaɪn// ser·pen·tine Archaic

adj. winding and twisting like a snake. You use this to describe things with many curves, like a road or a river.

adj. resembling a serpent in form or movement; sinuous and winding. Often describes physical paths or complex, indirect processes.


SIMPLE

The car drove slowly down the serpentine mountain road.

CONTEXTUAL

The river followed a serpentine path through the valley, creating deep loops in the green landscape.

COMPLEX

Navigating the serpentine bureaucracy of the regional government required more patience than the young entrepreneur had originally anticipated.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English serpentine, from Old French serpentin, from Latin serpentīnus, from serpēns (“serpent”), equivalent to serpent + -ine.

Usage

Commonly used to describe physical geography or metaphorical complexity.

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