Creepy
/ˈkriːpi/noun
Causing an uneasy feeling of fear or disgust.
Did you know?The word comes from the old idea of something moving low and stealthy, and its eerie modern meaning was powerfully reinforced by horror language in the 19th century.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
crēopan
“to creep, crawl, move slowly”
Old English
OE
crēap
“crept; moved stealthily”
Middle English
ME
crepen
“to creep, crawl”
14th-16th Century
English
creepy
“creeping; moving slowly or stealthily”
19th Century
English
creepy
“causing a shivery, unsettling feeling”
Modern English
English
creepy
“causing unease, fear, or disgust”