I.to creep, crawl (cf. serpo).
I. Lit.
1. Of animals: “repens animans,” Lucr. 3, 388: “cochleae inter saxa,” Sall. J. 93, 2: “millipeda,” Plin. 29, 6, 39, § 136: “formica,” id. 37, 11, 72, § 187: “muraenae,” id. 9, 20, 37, § 73: “volpecula,” Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 29 dub.: “elephas genibus in catervas,” Plin. 8, 7, 7, § 20 et saep.—
2. Of creeping children, Quint. 1, 2, 6; Stat. Th. 9, 427.—
3. Of other persons in gen.: “quā unus homo inermis vix poterat repere,” Nep. Hann. 3 fin.: “super altitudinem fastigii (templi),” Plin. 22, 17, 20, § 44: “Pyrrho regi, quo die periit, praecisa hostiarum capita repsisse,” id. 11, 37, 77, § 197.—
B. Transf., to creep, crawl, of persons travelling slowly: “milia tum pransi tria repimus,” Hor. S. 1, 5, 25.—Of persons swimming: “qui flumen repunt,” Arn. 1, 20.— Of cranes slowly stalking, Enn. ap. Serv. Verg. G. 3, 76 (Ann. v. 545 Vahl.).—Of boats moving slowly along: aequore in alto ratibus repentibus, Poet. (Enn.?) ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 23 Müll. (cf. Enn. p. 87 Vahl.; “Trag. Rel. p. 292 Rib.).—Of water flowing slowly: aqua palustris, quae pigro lapsu repit,” Col. 1, 5, 3.— “Of clouds,” Lucr. 6, 1121.— “Of fire: ignis per artus,” Lucr. 6, 661.—Of plants, Col. Arb. 4 fin.; 16, 4: genus cucurbitarum, quod humi repit, Plin. 19, 5, 24, § 70; 22, 22, 39, § 82.—Of movable towers, Luc. 3, 458.—Of the stealthy advance of a snare, Stat. S. 1, 2, 60.—