Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

vīpĕra, ae, f. [contr. from vivipera, from vivus-pario, that brings forth living young], a viper.

  1. I. Lit.: Coluber berus, Linn.; Plin. 10, 62, 82, § 169.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. Adder, snake, serpent, in gen., Prop. 4 (5), 7, 53; Verg. G. 3, 417; Hor. C. 3, 4, 17; id. Epod. 5, 15; 16, 52; Ov. M. 10, 24; id. R. Am. 421; id. A. A. 2, 376 al.
      Prov.: in sinu viperam habere, Cic. Har. Resp. 24, 50: viperam nutricare sub alā, to nourish a viper in one’s bosom, Petr. 77: vipera est in vepreculā, Pomp. ap. Non. p. 231, 13; v. veprecula.
    2. B. Viper! serpent! as a term of reproach for a dangerous person: saevissima, Juv. 6, 641: tandem, vipera, sibilare desiste, Flor. 4, 12, 37; cf. Don. Ter. Eun. 5, 1, 8.