creepy English · revision 10375

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1794|origins=en creep}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɹipi/; /ˈkɹiːpi/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[creep]] with the suffix [[-y]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Characterized by creeping or moving slowly: 1794.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Having a creeping feeling in the flesh, a chill of horror, is from 1831,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and producing such a feeling, the main modern sense, from 1858 in Etymonline and 1883 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Creepy-crawly'', a crawling insect, is from 1858.^(Etymonline) Annoyingly unpleasant or repulsive, of a person, is a later informal use.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1794 – creeping.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1831 – feeling a shudder.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1858 – causing a shudder; creepy-crawly.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Causing a sensation of unease or fear, as of things crawling on the skin; [[eerie]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Unpleasant in a disturbing way; repulsive.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Creeping or slow-moving.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[creepiness]]

+ * [[creepily]]

+ * [[creepy-crawly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[creeper]]

+ * [[creep]]

+ * [[creeps]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Scots and Yorkshire dialect, creepies were vermin or small crawling animals.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}