slippery

Meaning

Adjective

• 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.
• Evasive; difficult to pin down.
• Liable to slip; not standing firm.
• Unstable; changeable; inconstant.
• Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals.

Related

Similar words

• greasy, slick, slimy, slippy, wet

Opposite words

• sticky

Origin

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