STUMBLE

stumble. Stumble, v. to trip in walking, make to trip, err

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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. 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.
There stumble steeds strong and down go all. Chaucer. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know at what they stumble. Prov. iv. 19. 2. 2. To walk in an unsteady or clumsy manner.
He stumbled up the dark avenue. Sir W. Scott. 3. 3. To fall into a crime or an error; to err.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion og stumbling in him. 1 John ii. 10. 4. 4. To strike or happen (upon a person or thing) without design; to fall or light by chance; — with on, upon, or against.
Ovid stumbled, by some inadvertency, upon Livia in a bath. Dryden. Forth as she waddled in the brake, A gray goose stumbled on a snake. C. Smart.