stumble
UK: /ˈstʌm.bəl/ | US: /ˈstʌm.bəl/
vi. to trip or lose balance while walking or moving
vi. to make a mistake or hesitate in speech or action
vt. to cause someone to trip or falter
stumble = stum<to trip> + ble<frequentative verb suffix>
- stum (from Old Norse stumra, meaning "to trip or stagger")
- ble (a frequentative suffix indicating repeated or habitual action, as in "dazzle" or "crumble")
Etymology Origin:
The word "stumble" originates from Old Norse stumra, which conveyed the idea of tripping or staggering. The addition of the English frequentative suffix -ble transformed it into a verb describing repeated or habitual tripping, both physically and metaphorically (e.g., stumbling over words). The word’s evolution reflects a blend of Norse influence and English grammatical patterns.
She stumbled over a loose stone on the path.
He stumbled through his speech, forgetting key points.
The dark room made him stumble into a chair.
Their investigation stumbled upon new evidence.
Don’t let one mistake make you stumble in your goals.