Definitions for: Stoop


[n] an inclination of the top half of the body forward and downward
[n] small porch or set of steps at the front entrance of a house
[n] basin for holy water
[v] carry oneself, often habitually, with head, shoulders, and upper back bent forward; "The old man was stooping but he could walk around without a cane"
[v] sag, bend, bend over or down; "the rocks stooped down over the hiking path"
[v] bend one's back forward from the waist on down; "he crouched down"; "She bowed before the Queen"; "The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse"
[v] descend swiftly, as if on prey; "The eagle stooped on the mice in the field"
[v] debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way; "I won't stoop to reading other people's mail"



Webster (1913) Definition: Stoop, n. [D. stoep.] (Arch.)
Originally, a covered porch with seats, at a house door; the
Dutch stoep as introduced by the Dutch into New York.
Afterward, an out-of-door flight of stairs of from seven to
fourteen steps, with platform and parapets, leading to an
entrance door some distance above the street; the French
perron. Hence, any porch, platform, entrance stairway, or
small veranda, at a house door. [U. S.]


Stoop, n. [OE. stope, Icel. staup; akin to AS. ste['a]p,
D. stoop, G. stauf, OHG. stouph.]
A vessel of liquor; a flagon. [Written also stoup.]

Fetch me a stoop of liquor. --Shak.


Stoop, n. [Cf. Icel. staup a knobby lump.]
A post fixed in the earth. [Prov. Eng.]


Stoop, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stooped; p. pr. & vb. n.
Stooping.] [OE. stoupen; akin to AS. st?pian, OD. stuypen,
Icel. st[=u]pa, Sw. stupa to fall, to tilt. Cf 5th Steep.]
1. To bend the upper part of the body downward and forward;
to bend or lean forward; to incline forward in standing or
walking; to assume habitually a bent position.

2. To yield; to submit; to bend, as by compulsion; to assume
a position of humility or subjection.

Mighty in her ships stood Carthage long, . . . Yet
stooped to Rome, less wealthy, but more strong.
--Dryden.

These are arts, my prince, In which your Zama does
not stoop to Rome. --Addison.

3. To descend from rank or dignity; to condescend. ``She
stoops to conquer.'' --Goldsmith.

Where men of great wealth stoop to husbandry, it
multiplieth riches exceedingly. --Bacon.

4. To come down as a hawk does on its prey; to pounce; to
souse; to swoop.

The bird of Jove, stooped from his a["e]ry tour, Two
birds of gayest plume before him drove. --Milton.

5. To sink when on the wing; to alight.

And stoop with closing pinions from above. --Dryden.

Cowering low With blandishment, each bird stooped on
his wing. --Milton.

Syn: To lean; yield; submit; condescend; descend; cower;
shrink.


Stoop, v. t.
1. To bend forward and downward; to bow down; as, to stoop
the body. ``Have stooped my neck.'' --Shak.

2. To cause to incline downward; to slant; as, to stoop a
cask of liquor.

3. To cause to submit; to prostrate. [Obs.]

Many of those whose states so tempt thine ears Are
stooped by death; and many left alive. --Chapman.

4. To degrade. [Obs.] --Shak.


Stoop, n.
1. The act of stooping, or bending the body forward;
inclination forward; also, an habitual bend of the back
and shoulders.

2. Descent, as from dignity or superiority; condescension; an
act or position of humiliation.

Can any loyal subject see With patience such a stoop
from sovereignty? --Dryden.

3. The fall of a bird on its prey; a swoop. --L'Estrange.

Synonyms: bend, bow, condescend, crouch, lower oneself, stoep, stoup

See Also: act, basin, bear, carry, change posture, cower, flex, hold, huddle, inclination, incline, inclining, move, pitch, porch, pounce, slope, squinch, stoop to, swoop

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