English word creep comes from Proto-Indo-European *gerh₂-, Proto-Indo-European *grewbʰ-, and later Old English (ca. 450-1100) creopan (To creep.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *gerh₂- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | to call hoarsely, to cry hoarsely |
| *grewbʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| *kreupp- | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *krūpaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| creopan | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | To creep. |
| crēopan | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | |
| crepen | Middle English (1100-1500) (enm) | |
| creep | English (en) | (intransitive) Of plants, to grow across a surface rather than upwards.. (intransitive) To make small gradual changes, usually in a particular direction.. (intransitive) To move slowly and quietly in a particular direction.. (intransitive) To move slowly with the abdomen close to the ground.. To drag in deep water with creepers, as for recovering a submarine cable.. To have a sensation as of [...] |