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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. stope, Icel. staup; akin to AS. steáp, D. stoop, G. stauf, OHG. stouph. ] A vessel of liquor; a flagon. [ Written also stoup. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Fetch me a stoop of liquor. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Icel. staup a knobby lump. ] A post fixed in the earth. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Stooped p. pr. & vb. n. Stooping. ] [ OE. stoupen; akin to AS. st&unr_;pian, OD. stuypen, Icel. stūpa, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To yield; to submit; to bend, as by compulsion; to assume a position of humility or subjection. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mighty in her ships stood Carthage long, . . .
Yet stooped to Rome, less wealthy, but more strong. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

These are arts, my prince,
In which your Zama does not stoop to Rome. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To descend from rank or dignity; to condescend. “She stoops to conquer.” Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where men of great wealth stoop to husbandry, it multiplieth riches exceedingly. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To come down as a hawk does on its prey; to pounce; to souse; to swoop. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bird of Jove, stooped from his aery tour,
Two birds of gayest plume before him drove. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To sink when on the wing; to alight. [ 1913 Webster ]

And stoop with closing pinions from above. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cowering low
With blandishment, each bird stooped on his wing. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To lean; yield; submit; condescend; descend; cower; shrink. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To bend forward and downward; to bow down; as, to stoop the body. “Have stooped my neck.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to incline downward; to slant; as, to stoop a cask of liquor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to submit; to prostrate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Many of those whose states so tempt thine ears
Are stooped by death; and many left alive. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To degrade. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of stooping, or bending the body forward; inclination forward; also, an habitual bend of the back and shoulders. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Descent, as from dignity or superiority; condescension; an act or position of humiliation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Can any loyal subject see
With patience such a stoop from sovereignty? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The fall of a bird on its prey; a swoop. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who stoops. [ 1913 Webster ]