v. & n.
v. 1 intr. (usu. foll. by for) feel about or search blindly or uncertainly with the hands. 2 intr. (foll. by for, after) search mentally (was groping for the answer). 3 tr. feel (one's way) towards something. 4 tr. sl. fondle clumsily for sexual pleasure.
n. the process or an instance of groping. groper n. gropingly adv.
[ OE grapian f. Gmc ]