Stumbling

Stumbling
Stumble Stum"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Stumbled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stumbling}.] [OE. stumblen, stomblen; freq. of a word akin to E. stammer. See {Stammer}.] 1. To trip in walking or in moving in any way with the legs; to strike the foot so as to fall, or to endanger a fall; to stagger because of a false step. [1913 Webster]

There stumble steeds strong and down go all. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know at what they stumble. --Prov. iv. 19. [1913 Webster]

2. To walk in an unsteady or clumsy manner. [1913 Webster]

He stumbled up the dark avenue. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

3. To fall into a crime or an error; to err. [1913 Webster]

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion og stumbling in him. --1 John ii. 10. [1913 Webster]

4. To strike or happen (upon a person or thing) without design; to fall or light by chance; -- with on, upon, or against. [1913 Webster]

Ovid stumbled, by some inadvertency, upon Livia in a bath. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Forth as she waddled in the brake, A gray goose stumbled on a snake. --C. Smart. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • stumbling — index incompetent Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • stumbling —    The idea that it is a bad omen to stumble is one of the few superstitions which have sufficient documentary record to indicate a clear lineage in English folk belief back to medieval times and beyond, with a relatively unchanged meaning. The… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • Stumbling-block — Stum bling block , n. Any cause of stumbling, perplexity, or error. [1913 Webster] We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. 1 Cor. i. 23. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stumbling-stone — Stum bling stone , n. A stumbling block. [1913 Webster] This stumbling stone we hope to take away. T. Burnet. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stumbling block — stumbling .block n a problem or difficulty that stops you from achieving something stumbling block to ▪ The main stumbling block to starting new research is that we lack qualified people …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • stumbling block — stumbling blocks N COUNT: oft N to/in n A stumbling block is a problem which stops you from achieving something. Perhaps the major stumbling block to reunification is the military presence in South Korea …   English dictionary

  • stumbling block — index bar (obstruction), barrier, blockade (barrier), complication, deadlock, deterrence, di …   Law dictionary

  • stumbling block — [n] impediment barricade, barrier, blockage, catch*, Catch 22*, clog, delay, difficulty, drag*, drawback, handicap, hindrance, holdup, hurdle, obstacle, obstruction, road block*, setback, snag; concept 666 …   New thesaurus

  • stumbling block — ► NOUN ▪ an obstacle …   English terms dictionary

  • stumbling block — n. an obstacle, hindrance, or difficulty standing in the way of progress or understanding …   English World dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”