exploratively

She rarely discredited flattery, even when she knew the point of the moment lay elsewhere (as when Roger had praised her delicacy and humor at the same time that his hand around her waist sought to wander exploratively southward), but Miss Temple had pulled herself from the book, by her own power — an achievement even the forever condescending Contessa had remarked upon.

The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters Dahlquist, Gordon 2006

Behoves us, not to enter exploratively its dim embroiled deeps; yet to stand with unwavering eyes, looking how it welters; what notable phases and occurrences it will successively throw up.

The French Revolution Thomas Carlyle 1838