/ɡɹəʊp/, /ɡɹoʊp/
OriginFrom Middle English gropien, from Old English grāpian, related to grīpan (whence English gripe); compare also grip.
- obsoleteTo feel with or use the hands; to handle.
- 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.
“a. 1812. Joseph Stevens Buckminster, sermon
to grope about a little longer among the miseries and sensualities of a worldly life”
“In the hollow shades of the roof could be seen pale dangling arms of ivy which had crept through the joints of the tiles and were groping in vain for some support, their leaves being dwarfed and sickl”
“Yet there was no time to be lost if I was ever to get out alive, and so I groped with my hands against the side of the grave until I made out the bottom edge of the slab, and then fell to grubbing ben”
- To touch (another person) closely and (especially) sexually.
“The parents found the couple kissing and groping.”
- To intentionally and inappropriately touch or rub against another person, in such a manner as to make the contact appear accidental, for the purpose of one's sexual gratification.
“That old man groped that girl on the train!”
- obsoleteTo examine; to test; to sound.
“Felix gropeth him, thinking to have a bribe.”
- informalAn act of groping, especially sexually.
“The old man tried to get a quick grope of the young lady on the train.”
- obsoleteAn iron fitting of a medieval cart wheel.
“Gropes appear to be pieces of iron binding together the inner joint of the fitting, and grope-nails to have been used for fastening these to the wood.”
Formsgropes(present, singular, third-person) · groping(participle, present) · groped(participle, past) · groped(past) · gropes(plural)