词源 |
grope v.late Old English grapian "to feel about (as one blind or in darkness)," also "take hold of, seize, touch, attain," related to gripan "grasp at" (see gripe (v.)). The transitive sense of "search out by sense of touch alone" was in late Old English. The figurative sense is from early 14c. The indecent sense "touch (someone) amorously, play with, fondle" (marked as "obsolete" in OED 2nd edition) is from c. 1200. Related: Groped; groping. grope n. c. 1500, "act of groping," from grope (v.). Old English had grap "a grasp." updated on March 26, 2023 |