## Meanings
1. To hit your foot on something and almost fall.
2. To walk in an unsteady way.
3. To find or meet something by chance.
4. To make a mistake or pause while speaking or doing something.
5. An act of almost falling after hitting your foot on something.

## Examples
- I stumbled over a tree root in the dark.
- He stumbled home after the long, tiring journey.
- I stumbled across an old photo while cleaning the attic.
- She stumbled over the difficult words in her speech.
- A loose board caused his stumble on the stairs.

## Derived Forms
- stumble-drunk
- stumblebum
- stumbler
- stumblesome
- stumbly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *stam-

## Etymology
Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *stam- (“to trip up; to stammer, stutter”), thereby related to German stumm (“mute”), Dutch stom (“dumb”). Doublet of stammer. Also related to verb in Dutch stommelen (“to walk silently”).

## AI Etymology
Stumble Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *stam- (“to trip up; to stammer, stutter”), thereby related to German stumm (“mute”), Dutch stom (“dumb”). Doublet of stammer. Also related to verb in Dutch stommelen (“to walk silently”). In present-day use, it can mean to hit your foot on something and almost fall, or to walk in an unsteady way. Derived formations include stumble-drunk, stumblebum, stumbler, stumblesome, stumbly.

## Topics
- Verbs of Movement
- Actions & Processes

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