# snape

/ˈsneɪp/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/snape
Updated: 2026-06-22

## Definition

to move or run quickly and quietly. It is a very old word that people do not use much today.

For teachers: to move or run quickly and stealthily. Archaic in register; primarily found in historical texts or specific regional dialects.

## Examples

- The cat began to snape across the garden.
- In the old ballads, the thief would often snape through the shadows to avoid the guards.
- The poet describes the fox as it begins to snape through the tall grass, its movements so silent that the hunter cannot hear the rustle of the stalks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.