[f. as prec. + -ING2.]
a. That fumbles or gropes about; also, characterized by fumbling.
1847. Emerson, The Titmouse, Poems (1857), 62.
| Up and away for life! be fleet!— | |
| The frost-king ties my fumbling feet. |
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxxiv. She attired herself, with fumbling fingers.
1865. Max Müller, Chips (1880), II. xxv. 286. The fumbling efforts of gentlemen in removing their gloves before shaking hands.
1889. H. F. Wood, Englishman of Rue Caïn, v. A spare individual … entered … after a fumbling rap at the door.
b. fig. That does something clumsily or awkwardly; also, hesitating in speech, mumbling.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 698/1. Not anye true feelynge faythe, but a false fumblyng fantasye.
a. 1577. Gascoigne, Herbs, Weedes, etc. Wks. (1587), 114. Wyth hollow voice and fumbling toong thus spoke.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxii. § 14. Such are their fumbling shifts.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. i. Wks. 1856, I. 75.
| O, I could eate | |
| Thy fumbling throat, for thy lagd censure. |
1638. Sir R. Baker, trans. Letters of Mounsieur de Balzac (vol. III.), 258. He hath but a very little head, and but very staring eyes, and but a very fumbling speech, and but a very silly discourse, that you may know his judgement is not the prædominant part of his soule.
1681. Hickeringill, Vind. Naked Truth, II. 36. A fibling … fumbling Arch-Deacon.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., V. iii.
| There are wrongs | |
| The fumbling piecemeal law can never touch, | |
| Which bring of themselves to the injured, right divine, | |
| Straight from the fount of right, above all parchments, | |
| To be their own avengers. |
1576. Newton, Lemnie’s Complex., 81 b. They be vnto carnall coiture fumbling, slow, and not greatly therto addicted.
a. 1703. Pomfret, Poet. Wks. (1833), 17. Dull old age, with fumbling labour, cloys Before the bliss.
1710. Brit. Apollo, III. No. 77. 3/2. Their Fumbling Neighbours … cannot Enjoy The Pleasure of getting a Girl, or a Boy.
1786. Burns, Scotch Drink, xii. How fumblin cuifs their dearies slight.
fig. a. 1577. Gascoigne, Gardninges, 32, Herbs (1587), 164. If barreyn soyle, why then it chaungeth hewe, It fadeth faste, it flits to fumbling yeares.
1684. Otway, Prol. Lee’s Constantine. Fumbling, itching Rhimers of the town [proud] T’ adopt some base-born Song that’s not their own.
1689. Hickeringill, Ceremony-Monger, Introd. Wks. (1716), II. 500. Impotency is supply’d by Fumbling Registers.
d. (See FUMBLE v. 3.)
1681. Crowne, Hen. VI., I. 3. Pox o’ these fumbling robes! How came my warlike spirit wrapt in these Formalities, that hold my hands from blood?
Hence Fumblingly adv.
1598. Florio, Palpegone, gropingly, fumblingly.
1636. B. Jonson, Discov. (Rtldg.), 760/2. Perspicuitas.… That is the reason why many good scholars speak but fumblingly.
1870. Daily News, 9 Nov. He is obliged to put on his spectacles fumblingly.
