Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CREEP, v.i. [pret. and pp. crept. Sax. creopan, crypan; W. crepian, cropian; D. kruipen; Sw. krypa, to creep; Dan. kryben, a creeping; Ir. dreapam; Sp. and Port. trepar; L. repo; Gr. ερπω. The sense is, to catch, to grapple; and the latter is from the same root, Welsh, crapiaw, allied to L. rapio, and to W. cripian, to scrape or scratch. Class Rb.]

1. To move with the belly on the ground, or the surface of any other body, as a worm or serpent without legs, or as many insects with feet and very short legs; to crawl.
2. To move along the ground, or on the surface of any other body, in growth, as a vine; to grow along.
3. To move slowly, feebly or timorously; as, an old or infirm man, who creeps about his chamber.
4. To move slowly and insensibly, as time. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day. – Shak.
5. To move secretly; to move so as to escape detection, or prevent suspicion. Of this sort are they who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women. 2 Tim. iii.
6. To steal in; to move forward unheard and unseen; to come or enter unexpectedly or unobserved; as, some error has crept into the copy of a history.
7. To move or behave with servility; to fawn. – Shak.