grope

grope
    n 1: the act of groping; and instance of groping
    v 1: feel about uncertainly or blindly; "She groped for her
         glasses in the darkness of the bedroom" [syn: {grope},
         {fumble}]
    2: search blindly or uncertainly; "His mind groped to make the
       connection"
    3: fondle for sexual pleasure; "He made some sexual advances at
       the woman in his office and groped her repeatedly"
    

Grope \Grope\ (gr[=o]p), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Groped}
   (gr[=o]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Groping}.] [OE. gropen, gropien,
   grapien, AS. gr[=a]pian to touch, grope, fr. gr[imac]pan to
   gripe. See {Gripe}.]
   1. To feel with or use the hands; to handle. [Obs.]
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   2. To search or attempt to find something in the dark, or, as
      a blind person, by feeling; to move about hesitatingly, as
      in darkness or obscurity; to feel one's way, as with the
      hands, when one can not see.
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            We grope for the wall like the blind. --Is. lix. 10.
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            To grope a little longer among the miseries and
            sensualities ot a worldly life.       --Buckminster.
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Grope \Grope\, v. t.
   1. To search out by feeling in the dark; as, we groped our
      way at midnight.
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   2. To examine; to test; to sound. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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            Felix gropeth him, thinking to have a bribe.
                                                  --Genevan
                                                  Test. (Acts
                                                  xxiv. ).
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32 Moby Thesaurus words for "grope":
      agonize over, be at sea, be uncertain, beat about, doubt, examine,
      explore, feel, feel around, feel for, feel unsure, fish, flounder,
      fumble, grabble, grope for, poke, poke around, probe, prod, pry,
      pry around, puzzle over, question, quick look, root, scrabble,
      search, tentative examination, thrash about, wonder,
      wonder whether