a. Also 6 vyperos, -ouse, viperouse, 7–8 viporous; 6 vipros, 7 viprous, 7–8 poet. vip’rous. [f. VIPER + -OUS.]
1. Of or pertaining to a viper or vipers.
Rarely in literal use.
fig. 1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 144. With vipros vennum inwart in his mynd,… Dissaitfullie that tyme he gart him trow, That he wrocht ay for his plesour and prow.
1602. Rowlands, Tis Merrie when Gossips meete (Hunter. Cl.), 13. No viperous tongue thy pleasant vayne will strike.
1608. D. T[uvill], Ess. Pol. & Mor., 130. With the filthy slime of their malicious and viperous iawes.
a. 1665. J. Goodwin, Filled w. the Spirit (1867), 55. Men of a viperous spirit, and desperately set upon their own ruin and destruction.
1765. Beattie, Judgm. Paris, ciii. Censure spreads the viperous hiss around.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxv. (1861), V. 304. Papers about the brazen forehead, the viperous tongue, and the white liver of Jack Howe.
1886. Daily News, 8 April, 5/3. What viperous venom and what rat-like rage.
lit. 1614. Gorges, Lucan, IX. 391. But when she [Medusa] comb’d her crawling crowne, The viprous venone trailed downe.
1706. De Foe, Jure Divino, XII. 268. In vain supplies of vip’rous Blood they bring.
† b. In allusive use (see VIPER 3 a). Obs.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. v. (1634), 319. Out of that ancient custome the confessions and satisfactions that are at this day used, tooke their beginning. Truly very viperous births.
1603. J. Davies (Heref.), Wits Pilgr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 52/2. The Viperous Iron Teeth of Time may gnaw away, to wrack, through my Works Wombe.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 127. Whether [it be] … from vapors ingendred in the bowels of the earth, and loth to bee imprisoned in a wrong orb, [the subterranean fire] rends its passage by a viperous horrid motion; or [etc.].
2. Composed or consisting of vipers. Freq. with admixture of sense 4.
Chiefly in fig. use or as a term of opprobrium, esp. in viperous brood or generation; freq. in the 17th c., now rare or arch.
fig. 1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 1754. Oh ragynge serpentes and vyperouse generacyon.
1586. J. Hooker, Hist. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 42/1. The loose life of that viperous nation.
1601. Dent, Pathw. Heaven, 152. This viperous brood [of liars] doe but watch their times and opportunities.
1643. Quarles, Loyal Convert, Wks. (Grosart), I. 142/2. A viperous Generation (which hath long nested in this unhappie Island).
1670. Devout Commun. (1688), 124. That the Lord of all should … take into his bosom the viperous brood, that have so often spit their venom in his face?
1706. E. Ward, Hud. Rediv. (1707), II. vii. 13. For in this pious Christian Nation There is a vip’rous Congregation [etc.].
1714. L. Milbourne, Traitor’s Reward, Pref. His way of extolling his viperous generation is so very impudent and rediculous, that [etc.].
1814. Southey, Roderick, V. 115. These were Witiza’s hateful progeny; And in an evil hour the unhappy King Had spared the viperous brood.
1874. Farrar, Christ, viii. (1884), 53. A formalism and falsity which made them vipers of a viperous brood.
lit. 1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, II. 128. She … rent from thence, before Psyche’s astonish’d eyes, that viperous fry Which her snarl’d soul in unfelt bands did ty.
1688. Phil. Trans., XVIII. 128. Vipers, and all the Viperous Brood.
† b. In allusive use (cf. 4 b, and see VIPER 3 a).
1615. W. Hull, Mirr. Maiestie, 39. Sinne is a viperous brood: the life of the daughter, is the death of the mother.
1627. in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 514. This forwardness of you is the more remarkable, when that Viperous Generation … do, at ease, with tooth and nail, essay to rend the Bowels of their Mother.
1648. Canterburie March, B 2. Hence Viprous Brood! what make you heare, Who thus the Kingdomes Bowels teare?
† c. Of hair, etc. Cf. SNAKY a. 1. Obs. rare.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., XII. xxx. Her viperous locks hung loose about her eares; Yet with a monstrous snake she them restrains.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XI. 8. Then from his own viperous Tresses He Pluck’d three large handfuls of his longest Snakes.
3. Of actions, qualities, etc.: Worthy of or befitting a viper; malignant, treacherous, venomous.
Very common in the 17th c.; now rare or arch.
1542. Brinklow, Compl., xxiii. 48 b. How haue thei bewitched the Parlament howse in making such vyperos actys as the beast of Rome neuer made him selfe!
1555. in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), III. App. xlvi. 142. Their wicked lyves, and viperouse behaviour toward the said bishope.
1604. Coke, 2 State Trials, 26. I want words sufficient to express your viperous treasons.
1631. Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 252. The viperous malice of this Monkish broode.
1646. J. Hall, Poems, I. xi. 27. Wee’l suffer viperous thoughts and cares To follow after silver hairs.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), X. 285. Let us now see into how many cursed consequences, this viperous piece of villany is like to spread itself.
1824. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 399. Passions so vehement and viperous.
b. Of language, writings, etc.
1605. Camden, Rem., Epit. 34. Vpon Stigand … I finde this most viperous Epitaph in an old Manuscript.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., III. iv. 41. ’Tis Slander,… whose tongue Out-venomes all the Wormes of Nyle;… the Secrets of the Graue this viperous slander enters.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., I. 3. The viperous murmurings of miscreant villaines.
1728. P. Walker, Life Peden (1827), 270. This is a viporous, groundless wicked Story.
1809–10. Coleridge, Friend (1865), 58. In one of those viperous journals, which deal out profaneness, hate, fury, and sedition throughout the land.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. ii. 37. Wit … expended in darting viperous epigrams at Court-ladies.
1905. Athenæum, 12 Aug., 217/1. Lockhart was … annoyed … especially by the viperous notes from a Whig hand.
4. Of the nature of a viper; resembling a viper in character or action; having the attributes or evil qualities of a viper.
Freq. in the 17th c.; now rare.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 20. Good Sir, arise, and confound those Viperous Cryticall monsters.
1607. Shaks., Cor., III. i. 287. Speake breefely then, For we are peremptory to dispatch This Viporous Traitor.
1621. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1906), I. 347. These viprous, dessemblinge, and crockadillike currs.
1680. Spirit of Popery, 24. The Viperous Author of the Reformed Bishop.
1760. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), I. 130. No step-dames, nor viporous instruments, shall ever hereafter insinuate between us.
1821. Shelley, Adonais, xxxvi. What deaf and viperous murderer could crown Life’s early cup with such a draught of woe?
† b. In allusive use (see VIPER 3 a). Obs.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. i. 72. Ciuill dissention is a viperous Worme That gnawes the Bowels of the Common-wealth.
1603. J. Davies (Heref.), Microcosmos, Wks. (Grosart), I. 56/2. Woe woorth such vip’rous Cousins that wil rend Their Mother’s wombe (the Common-wealth) to raigne.
1648. Hunting of Fox, 11. Such viperous Schismaticks as would eate out their way.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., XII. ix. Twas vip’rous Nero slew his own indulgent Mother.
c. fig. Of things.
1805. Wordsw., Prelude, IX. 576. The stings of viperous remorse, Trying their strength, enforced him to start up, Aghast and prayerless.
1880. Sat. Rev., No. 1311. 734/1. Considering how much damage these viperous little craft are likely to do in war.
1885–94. R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, April, xi. A savage beast, The viperous scourge of gods and humankind.
Hence Viperously adv., in or after the manner of a viper; venomously; Viperousness, viperous nature or character; venomosity. rare.
1587. Holinshed, Chron., III. 419. In that copious treatise hauing spoken as maliciouslie & *viperouslie as he might … of Wickliffes life.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, III. 210. O how the peevish and reluctant elves (Mad with their own birth,) viperously contend The worried bowels of the heart to rend!
1649. Cockayne, Found. Freedom Vind., 1. Whose seeming sugered words are mixed with wormwood, promising fairnesse, but viperously stinging the poore despised Army.
1728. P. Walker, Life Peden, To Rdr. (1827), p. xxv. Mr. William Vetch,… in his dotted old Age, wrote so viporously and maliciously against him.
1651. Mr. Love’s Case, 37. Is it possible that such virulency and *viperousness of words as these should proceed from any other Principle?
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), Viperousness.
