Definition of the word stooped

The word "stooped" is derived from the Old English word stoppan, which meant "to bend or curve oneself." In its early forms, the word was spelt as stuppan, stompan, or stoppan, showing variation in spelling typical of Old English. In Middle English, the word evolved to stopyng, stoppyng, and stoppe, with the meaning expanding to include not just bending the body but also bending the senses, such as bending the ear to listen. In the Early Modern English period, the word further transformed, with the spelling settling into the modern form "stooped." Though its usage has narrowed to refer primarily to bending or slouching the body, the Old English origins demonstrate how English language word roots can stem from everyday movements and actions.