stoop
    n 1: an inclination of the top half of the body forward and
         downward
    2: basin for holy water [syn: stoup, stoop]
    3: small porch or set of steps at the front entrance of a house
       [syn: stoop, stoep]
    v 1: 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" [syn: crouch,
         stoop, bend, bow]
    2: debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or
       dishonorable way; "I won't stoop to reading other people's
       mail" [syn: condescend, stoop, lower oneself]
    3: descend swiftly, as if on prey; "The eagle stooped on the
       mice in the field"
    4: sag, bend, bend over or down; "the rocks stooped down over
       the hiking path"
    5: 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"

Stoop \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.
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   2. To yield; to submit; to bend, as by compulsion; to assume
      a position of humility or subjection.
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            Mighty in her ships stood Carthage long, . . .
            Yet stooped to Rome, less wealthy, but more strong.
                                                  --Dryden.
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            These are arts, my prince,
            In which your Zama does not stoop to Rome.
                                                  --Addison.
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   3. To descend from rank or dignity; to condescend. "She
      stoops to conquer." --Goldsmith.
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            Where men of great wealth stoop to husbandry, it
            multiplieth riches exceedingly.       --Bacon.
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   4. To come down as a hawk does on its prey; to pounce; to
      souse; to swoop.
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            The bird of Jove, stooped from his aery tour,
            Two birds of gayest plume before him drove.
                                                  --Milton.
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   5. To sink when on the wing; to alight.
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            And stoop with closing pinions from above. --Dryden.
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            Cowering low
            With blandishment, each bird stooped on his wing.
                                                  --Milton.
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   Syn: To lean; yield; submit; condescend; descend; cower;
        shrink.
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Stoop \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.]
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         Fetch me a stoop of liquor.              --Shak.
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Stoop \Stoop\, n. [Cf. Icel. staup a knobby lump.]
   A post fixed in the earth. [Prov. Eng.]
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Stoop \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.]
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Stoop \Stoop\, v. t.
   1. To bend forward and downward; to bow down; as, to stoop
      the body. "Have stooped my neck." --Shak.
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   2. To cause to incline downward; to slant; as, to stoop a
      cask of liquor.
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   3. To cause to submit; to prostrate. [Obs.]
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            Many of those whose states so tempt thine ears
            Are stooped by death; and many left alive.
                                                  --Chapman.
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   4. To degrade. [Obs.] --Shak.
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Stoop \Stoop\, n.
   1. The act of stooping, or bending the body forward;
      inclination forward; also, an habitual bend of the back
      and shoulders.
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   2. Descent, as from dignity or superiority; condescension; an
      act or position of humiliation.
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            Can any loyal subject see
            With patience such a stoop from sovereignty?
                                                  --Dryden.
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   3. The fall of a bird on its prey; a swoop. --L'Estrange.
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