stooping

• Adjectif décrivant une personne qui se penche en avant ou a une posture voûtée ; il peut aussi s'employer au sens figuré pour évoquer la condescendance ou l'abaissement moral.

An archaic adjective describing someone who bends forward or has a bent posture; also used figuratively to mean condescending or morally lowering oneself.

1. Bent or hunched postureB2formal

   Having the back and shoulders rounded forward, not standing straight.

   courbé, voûté

   • The old man walked with a stooping gait.
   • Her stooping shoulders made her look tired.
   • Years of working at a low desk left him with a stooping back.

   Synonymesbentbowedcrookedcurveddroopinghunchedround-shoulderedstooped

   Antonymeserectstraightunbentupright

• Verbe désignant l'action de se pencher en avant et vers le bas, ou de s'abaisser physiquement ou moralement.

A verb used to indicate the act of bending forward and downward, or lowering oneself physically or morally.

1. Bend forwardB1formal

   To bend one's back forward from the waist downward, often to pick something up or pass through a low space.

   Se pencher en avant

   • He had to stoop to pick up the coin from the floor.
   • She stooped under the low doorway to enter the room.
   • The gardener stooped to pull out the weeds.

   Synonymesbendbowcrouchhunchhunker down

   Antonymesstraighten

2. Lower oneself morallyB2formal

   To act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way; to debase oneself morally.

   S'abaisser moralement

   • I would never stoop to cheating on a test.
   • He stooped to spreading lies about his competitor.
   • She refused to stoop to their level of rudeness.

   Synonymesabasedebasedegradedemeanhumblelowersink

   Antonymeselevatehonor

3. Swoop downC1formal

   To descend swiftly, as if on prey.

   fondre

   • The eagle stooped down to catch the rabbit.
   • The hawk stooped from the sky with incredible speed.
   • The falcon stooped on its target without hesitation.

   Synonymesdescenddiveplummetpounceswoop

   Antonymesascendrisesoar

4. Sag or bend overB2formal

   To sag, bend, or bend over or down, often due to weight or pressure.

   Se pencher, s'affaisser

   • The old shelf began to stoop under the weight of the books.
   • The branches stooped low with the heavy snow.
   • The fence stooped after the storm.

   Synonymesbendbowcrouchdroophunchleansagslouch

   Antonymesstraightenupright

5. Habitual postureB1formal

   To carry oneself, often habitually, with the head, shoulders, and upper back bent forward.

   Posture voûtée

   • He tends to stoop when he walks, making him look shorter.
   • Years of desk work caused her to stoop.
   • The old man stooped as he shuffled down the street.

   Synonymeshunchslouch

   Antonymesstraighten

Variantes phrasalstoop to