Word Study
grope
CIDE DICTIONARY
grope, v. i. [OE. gropen, gropien, grapien, AS. gr to touch, grope, fr. gr to gripe. See Gripe.].
- To feel with or use the hands; to handle. [1913 Webster]
- To search or attempt to find something in the dark, or, as a blind person, by feeling; to move about hesitatingly, as in darkness or obscurity; to feel one's way, as with the hands, when one can not see. [1913 Webster]"We grope for the wall like the blind." [1913 Webster]"To grope a little longer among the miseries and sensualities ot a worldly life." [1913 Webster]
grope, v. t.
- To search out by feeling in the dark; as, we groped our way at midnight. [1913 Webster]
- To examine; to test; to sound. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]"Felix gropeth him, thinking to have a bribe." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
grope, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. (usu. foll. by for) feel about or search blindly or uncertainly with the hands.
2 intr. (foll. by for, after) search mentally (was groping for the answer).
3 tr. feel (one's way) towards something.
4 tr. sl. fondle clumsily for sexual pleasure.
--n. the process or an instance of groping.
--v.
1 intr. (usu. foll. by for) feel about or search blindly or uncertainly with the hands.
2 intr. (foll. by for, after) search mentally (was groping for the answer).
3 tr. feel (one's way) towards something.
4 tr. sl. fondle clumsily for sexual pleasure.
--n. the process or an instance of groping.
Derivative
groper n. gropingly adv.
Etymology
OE grapian f. Gmc
THESAURUS
grope
agonize over, be at sea, be uncertain, beat about, doubt, examine, explore, feel, feel around, feel for, feel unsure, fish, flounder, fumble, grabble, grope for, poke, poke around, probe, prod, pry, pry around, puzzle over, question, quick look, root, scrabble, search, tentative examination, thrash about, wonder, wonder whetherROGET THESAURUS
grope
Touch
VB touch, feel, handle, finger, thumb, paw, fumble, grope, grabble, twiddle, tweedle, pass the fingers over, run the fingers over, manipulate, wield, throw out a feeler.Experiment
VB experiment, essay, try, try out, assay, make an experiment, make a trial of, give a trial to, put on trial, subject to trial, experiment upon, rehearse, put to the test, bring to the test, submit to the test, submit to the proof, prove, verify, test, touch, practice upon, try one's strength, road-test, test drive, take for a spin, test fly, grope, feel one's way, grope for one's way, fumble, t=atonner, aller =a t=atons, put out a feeler, throw out a feeler, send up a trial balloon, send up a pilot balloon, see how the land lies, get the lay of the land, test the waters, feel out, sound out, take the pulse, see, check, check out, see how the wind blows, consult the barometer, feel the pulse, fish for, bob for, cast for, beat about for, angle, trawl, cast one's net, beat the bushes, try one's fortune, explore.For further exploring for "grope" in Webster Dictionary Online
