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Slippery

//ˈslɪpəɹi// adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of a surface, having low friction, often due to being covered in a non-viscous liquid, and therefore hard to grip, hard to stand on without falling, etc.

    "Oily substances render things slippery."

  2. 2
    Evasive; difficult to pin down. broadly, figuratively

    "a slippery person"

  3. 3
    Liable to slip; not standing firm. obsolete

    "Which when they fall, as being slippery standers, / The love that leaned on them, as slippery too, / Do one pluck down another, and together / Die in the fall."

  4. 4
    Unstable; changeable; inconstant.

    "He looking down With scorn or pity on the slippery state Of kings, will tread upon the neck of fate."

  5. 5
    Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals. obsolete

    "My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess –"

Adjective
  1. 1
    causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide wordnet
  2. 2
    not to be trusted wordnet

Etymology

From Middle English slipperie, an extended form ( + -y) of Middle English slipper, sliper (“slippery”), from Old English slipor (“slippery”), from Proto-Germanic *slipraz (“smooth, slippery”), equivalent to slip + -er. Compare also Middle English slibbri, slubbri (“slippery”) borrowed from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German slibberich (“slippery”). Cognate with German schlüpfrig (“slippery”), Danish slibrig (“slippery”), Swedish slipprig (“slippery”).

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