slippery
Meaning
- Of a surface, having low friction, often due to being covered in a non-viscous liquid, and therefore hard to grip, hard to stand on without falling, etc.
- (broadly, figuratively) Evasive; difficult to pin down.
- (obsolete) Liable to slip; not standing firm.
- Unstable; changeable; inconstant.
- (obsolete) Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals.
Synonyms
be slippery
Translations
glissant
schlüpfrig
glad
sdrucciolevole
escorregadio
resbaladizoFrequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈslɪpəɹi/
Etymology
In summary
From Middle English slipperie, an extended form ( + -y) of Middle English slipper, sliper (“slippery”), from Old English slipor (“slippery”), from Proto-Germanic *slipraz (“smooth, slippery”), equivalent to slip + -er. Compare also Middle English slibbri, slubbri (“slippery”) borrowed from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German slibberich (“slippery”). Cognate with German schlüpfrig (“slippery”), Danish slibrig (“slippery”), Swedish slipprig (“slippery”).
Notes
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