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.
Derivatives:
groper n. gropingly adv.
Etymology: OE grapian f. Gmc