Leap

lēp, v.i. to move with bounds: to spring upward or forward: to jump: to rush with vehemence.— v.t. to bound over: to cause to take a leap: to cover or copulate (of some beasts):— pr.p. leap′ing; pa.t. leaped or leapt (lept); pa.p. leaped, rarely leapt.— n. act of leaping: bound: space pa ed by leaping: sudden transition.— ns. Leap′-frog , a play in which one boy places his hands on the back of another stooping in front of him, and vaults over his head; Leap′ing-house ( Shak. ), a brothel; Leap′ing-time ( Shak. ), youth; Leap′-year , every fourth year—of 366 days, adding one day in February.— Leap in the dark , an act of which we cannot foresee the consequences. [A.S. hleápan , pa.t. hleóp ; Ger. laufen , to run.]