Past tense of leap; jumped or sprang a long way, up, or over something. Also means to move quickly or suddenly from one state or topic to another.
From Old English 'hleapan' of Germanic origin, related to Dutch 'lopen' (to run) and German 'laufen' (to run). The word has maintained its core meaning of springing or jumping since Proto-Germanic times, with the past tense form 'leaped' coexisting with 'leapt.'
English uniquely offers two past tense forms - 'leaped' and 'leapt' - with 'leaped' being more common in American English and 'leapt' preferred in British English. The word appears in countless metaphorical expressions like 'leap of faith' and 'quantum leap,' showing how physical actions become powerful symbols for mental or spiritual transitions.
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