[grope] vb groped ; grop.ing [ME, fr. OE grapian; akin to OE gripan to seize] vi (bef. 12c) 1: to feel about blindly or uncertainly in search "~ for the light switch"
2: to look for something blindly or uncertainly "~ for the right words"
3: to feel one's way ~ vt 1: feel up
2: to find (as one's way) by groping -- grope n -- grop.er n