stumbler
Variant of stumble
stum·ble (stum′bəl)
intransitive verb stumbled -·bled, stumbling -·bling
- to trip or miss one's step in walking, running, etc.
- to walk or go in an unsteady or awkward manner, as from age, weakness, etc.
- to speak, act, or proceed in a confused, blundering manner to stumble through a speech
- to fall into sin or error; do wrong
- to come by chance; happen to stumble across a clue
Etymology: ME stumblen < Scand, as in Norw dial. stumba, ON stumra < IE base *stem-, to bump against, hamper > stammer, Ger stumm, Du stom, mute
transitive verb
- to cause to stumble
- to puzzle or perplex; confound
noun
- the act of stumbling
- a blunder, error, or sin
Related Forms:
- stumbler stum′·bler noun
- stumblingly stum′·blingly adverb
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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