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fumbling

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fumbling

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Fumble  \Fum"ble\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Fumbled};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Fumbling}.]  [Akin  to  D.  fommelen  to  crumple,  fumble,  Sw 
  fumla  to  fusuble,  famla  to  grope,  Dan.  famle  to  grope, 
  fumble,  Icel.  falme,  AS  folm  palm  of  the  hand.  See  {Feel}, 
  and  cf  {Fanble},  {Palm}.] 
  1.  To  feel  or  grope  about  to  make  awkward  attempts  to  do  or 
  find  something 
 
  Adams  now  began  to  fumble  in  his  pockets. 
  --Fielding. 
 
  2.  To  grope  about  in  perplexity;  to  seek  awkwardly;  as  to 
  fumble  for  an  excuse.  --Dryden. 
 
  My  understanding  flutters  and  my  memory  fumbles. 
  --Chesterfield. 
 
  Alas!  how  he  fumbles  about  the  domains. 
  --Wordsworth. 
 
  3.  To  handle  much  to  play  childishly;  to  turn  over  and  over 
 
  I  saw  him  fumble  with  the  sheets,  and  play  with 
  flowers.  --Shak. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  fumbling 
  adj  :  showing  lack  of  skill  or  aptitude;  "a  bungling  workman"; 
  "did  a  clumsy  job";  "his  fumbling  attempt  to  put  up  a 
  shelf"  [syn:  {bungling},  {clumsy},  {incompetent}]




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