adv. [f. STUMBLING ppl. a. + -LY2.] In a stumbling manner.
a. 1586. Sidney, Apol. Poet. (Arb.), 62. I know not, whether to meruaile more, either that he [Chaucer] in that mistie time, could see so clearely, or that wee in this cleare age, walke so stumblingly after him.
1879. Browning, Martin Relph, 95. A Man,… Who staggeringly, stumblingly, rises, falls, rises.
1915. J. L. Waugh, in Chamb. Jrnl., Aug., 491/2. With eyes strained to catch each well-known feature, I stumblingly descended the rugged bank.
