"Leant toward" is the British spelling of the word "leaned toward" which means to incline or to bend. The IPA phonetic transcription of "leant toward" would be /lent/ for the first syllable, pronounced like the word "rent" without the "r", and /tɔːd/ for the second syllable, pronounced like the word "toward". It's important to note that in American English, the correct spelling would be "leaned toward" with the sound of the letter "d" at the end of the word distinctly pronounced.
"Leant toward" is a phrasal verb that typically denotes a physical or metaphorical inclination or inclination towards a specific action, idea, or preference. It is commonly used to describe a leaning or bending motion of the body towards a particular direction or object, but can also describe a mental tendency or inclination towards a specific choice, opinion, or decision.
In its physical sense, "leant toward" refers to a slight or partial bending of the body at an angle in order to get closer to or show interest in something. For example, one might "leant toward" a person while having an intimate conversation, or "leant toward" a book to read it more closely. This physical movement signifies a leaning or inclination towards a particular object of interest.
Metaphorically, "leant toward" carries the meaning of a personal inclination or preference towards a specific opinion, option, or decision. It suggests a leaning or bending of one's thoughts, actions, or beliefs in favor of a particular choice or perspective. For instance, one may say that a politician "leant toward" a more progressive stance on a particular issue. This indicates their tendency or inclination towards supporting or advocating for progressive policies.
Overall, "leant toward" captures both a physical and metaphorical inclination or preference towards a specific direction, action, or viewpoint. It highlights a leaning or bending motion, either in terms of physical posture or mental inclination, indicating a partial or slight preference toward a specific object or idea.
The word "leant" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "lean". The verb "lean" originated from the Old English word "hleonian", which meant "to lean or recline". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "hlinen", which also had the same meaning. This Proto-Germanic word is believed to have originated from the Proto-Indo-European root "*klei", meaning "to lean or incline". "Toward" is an Old English word that came from the combination of "to" and "weard", where "to" indicated direction and "weard" meant "in the direction of". The combination "toward" has been in use since the Middle English period. Therefore, "leant toward" describes the action of leaning or inclining in a specific direction.