from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Leap \Leap\ (l[=e]p), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Leaped} (l[=e]pt;
277), rarely {Leapt} (l[=e]pt or l[e^]pt); p. pr. & vb. n.
{Leaping}.] [OE. lepen, leapen, AS. hle['a]pan to leap, jump,
run; akin to OS. [=a]hl[=o]pan, OFries. hlapa, D. loopen, G.
laufen, OHG. louffan, hlauffan, Icel. hlaupa, Sw. l["o]pa,
Dan. l["o]be, Goth. ushlaupan. Cf. {Elope}, {Lope},
{Lapwing}, {Loaf} to loiter.]
1. To spring clear of the ground, with the feet; to jump; to
vault; as, a man leaps over a fence, or leaps upon a
horse. --Bacon.
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Leap in with me into this angry flood. --Shak.
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2. To spring or move suddenly, as by a jump or by jumps; to
bound; to move swiftly. Also Fig.
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My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky. --Wordsworth.
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