I.a mockery, derision, wantonness.
I. Lit.: “quodsi ridicula haec ludibriaque esse videmus,” Lucr. 2, 47: “ne per ludibrium interiret regnum,” by wantonness, Liv. 24, 4, 2. —
(β).
With gen. subj.: “ille (Bias) haec ludibria fortunae ne sua quidem putavit,” i. e. worldly goods, Cic. Par. 1, 1, 8: “hoc quoque ludibrium casus ediderit fortuna, ut, etc.,” Liv. 30, 30: “inter magna rerum verborumque ludibria,” Suet. Vit. 17: “ludibria naturae,” id. Aug. 83.—
(γ).
With gen. obj.: “ludibrium oculorum specie terribile ad frustrandum hostem commentus,” Liv. 22, 16; cf. id. 24, 44: “sive ludibrium oculorum sive vera species,” Curt. 4, 15, 26.—
II. Transf.
A. A laughing-stock, butt, jest, sport: “is (Brutus) ab Tarquiniis ductus Delphos, ludibrium verius, quam comes,” Liv. 1, 56, 9: “quibus mihi ludibrio fuisse videntur divitiae,” the sport of, Sall. C. 13: “in ora hominum pro ludibrio abire,” Liv. 2, 36: “ludibrium soceri,” Luc. 7, 379: “pelagi,” id. 8, 710: “ventis Debes ludibrium,” Hor. C. 1, 14, 15: “ludibrium omnium reddere aliquem,” Just. 9, 6, 6: “et vultus et vox ludibrio sunt hominibus, quos non permoverunt,” Quint. 6, 1, 45.—
B. A scoff, jest, sport: “qui lubet ludibrio habere me,” Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 45; so, “ludibrio aliquem habere,” id. Cas. 3, 5, 19.—Pass.: “ludibrio haberi,” Ter. Hec. 1, 2, 74; 4, 1, 11: “hosti ludibrio esse,” Cic. ad Brut. 1, 2: “legati per ludibrium auditi dimissique,” Liv. 24, 26: “per ludibrium exprobrare,” to reproach jestingly, scoff, Curt. 4, 10: “nec dubie ludibrio esse miserias suas,” id. 2, 23, 13: “aliquem in ludibrium reservare,” Suet. Calig. 23: “adusque ludibria ebriosus,” such a drunkard as to be a standing jest, Gell. 15, 2, 2.—
