To run with long, easy strides in a smooth, rhythmic manner. As a noun, it refers to this type of gait, often describing the natural running style of animals like wolves or horses.
From Middle English, possibly from Old Norse 'hlaupa' (to run, leap). Related to the word 'leap,' it originally described a bounding or springing motion that evolved to mean a smooth, sustained run.
A lope is the perfect pace for covering long distances without exhaustion - it's why wolves can travel dozens of miles in a day. The word captures something between a jog and a run, that sustainable rhythm that feels almost effortless when you find your groove.
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