Definition of "feel for"

feel for

verb
third-person singular simple present feels for, present participle feeling for, simple past and past participle felt for
1. (idiomatic) To experience sympathy for, to sympathise with.
2. (idiomatic) To search for something by touching (as with one’s hand in a bag).
  Quotations
  Harry felt for his purse in his left-hand trousers pocket, but it was not there. He then tried his right-hand trousers pocket, but it was not there. He then tested the left hand pocket of his vest, but it was not there. He then explored the right-hand pocket of his vest, but it was not there. He then darted a h and into each of the pockets of his shooting-jacket, but it was not there.
  1896, Stephen Wyke, The Yorkshire Cousins‎, Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Company, Limited, page 15