stum´bling|ly

stum´bling|ly
stum|ble «STUHM buhl», verb, -bled, -bling, noun.
–v.i.
1. to trip by striking the foot against something: »

He stumbled over the stool in the dark kitchen.

2. to walk or move in an unsteady way: »

The tired old man stumbled along.

3. Figurative. to speak, act, or proceed in a clumsy or hesitating way: »

The boy made many blunders as he stumbled through his recitation.

4. Figurative. to make a mistake; do wrong; err: »

The officials stumbled repeatedly in carrying out the new program.

5. Figurative. to come by accident or chance: »

While in the country, she stumbled upon some fine old pieces of furniture.

6. to take offense; find an obstacle to belief; falter (at).
–v.t.
1. to cause to stumble; trip.
2. Figurative. to puzzle; perplex; nonplus.
–n.
1. a wrong act; mistake; blunder.
2. the act of stumbling.
╂[origin uncertain. Compare Swedish dialectal stambla.]
–stum´bler, noun.
–stum´bling|ly, adverb.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • stum|bling block — «STUHM blihng», 1. an obstacle; hindrance; impediment: »A big stumbling block preventing settlement was the union s demand for a cost of living escalator clause (Wall Street Journal). 2. something that makes a person stumble …   Useful english dictionary

  • stum´bler — stum|ble «STUHM buhl», verb, bled, bling, noun. –v.i. 1. to trip by striking the foot against something: »He stumbled over the stool in the dark kitchen. 2. to walk or move in an unsteady way: »The tired old man stumbled along. 3. Figurative. to… …   Useful english dictionary

  • stum|ble — «STUHM buhl», verb, bled, bling, noun. –v.i. 1. to trip by striking the foot against something: »He stumbled over the stool in the dark kitchen. 2. to walk or move in an unsteady way: »The tired old man stumbled along. 3. Figurative. to speak,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • stum — stum·bling·ly; stum·bly; stum·mel; stum; stum·ble; …   English syllables

  • bling — am·bling; bau·bling; bling·er; bram·bling; cram·bling; crum·bling·ness; dab·bling·ly; dis·sem·bling·ly; fee·bling; fum·bling·ness; gar·bling; grum·bling·ly; hob·bling·ly; jum·bling·ly; mum·bling·ly; ram·bling·ly; roe·bling·ite; rum·bling·ly;… …   English syllables

  • stumblingly — stum·bling·ly …   English syllables

  • stumble — stum•ble [[t]ˈstʌm bəl[/t]] v. bled, bling, n. 1) to strike the foot against something, as in walking or running, so as to stagger or fall 2) to walk or go unsteadily 3) to make a slip, mistake, or blunder, esp. a sinful one 4) to proceed in a… …   From formal English to slang

  • stumblingblock — stum·bling block (stŭmʹblĭng) n. An obstacle or impediment. * * * …   Universalium

  • stumbling block — stum|bling block [ stʌmblıŋ ,blak ] noun count a difficulty that causes mistakes or prevents progress: a major stumbling block to an agreement …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • stumbling block — stum′bling block n. an obstacle or hindrance to progress, belief, or understanding • Etymology: 1580–90 …   From formal English to slang

Share the article and excerpts

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