I.v. dep. n. and a. [id.] (inf. ludificarier, Plaut. Mil. 4, 4, 25), to make game, to mock; to make game of, make sport of, turn into ridicule; to delude, deceive.
I. Lit.
A. Neutr.: “aperte ludificari et calumniari,” to mock, ridicule, Cic. Rosc. Am. 20, 55.—With acc. of kindred signif.: “nugas ludificabitur,” will make game of you in trifles, Plaut. Capt. 3, 4, 80.—
B. Act.: “Potin' ut hominem mihi des? ... ni ludificata ero lepide, etc.,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 3, 53: “tun me, verbero, audes erum ludificari?” id. Am. 2, 1, 15: “me ludificatus est,” id. Most. 5, 2, 25: “virginem,” Ter. Eun. 4, 3, 3: “siquidem tu me hic etiam, nebulo, ludificabere,” id. ib. 4, 4, 49: “patres et plebem cunctatione fictā,” Tac. A. 1, 46: “aliena mala,” to make sport of, Plin. Ep. 6, 20.—
II. Transf., to thwart, frustrate, by tricks or contrivances: “locationem,” Liv. 39. 44: “ea, quae hostes agerent,” id. 24, 34: “rostra fuga,” Flor. 2, 2, 8: “hostis impune Romanum ludificabatur,” Tac. A. 3, 21.—Pass. part.: “ludificato incerto proelio,” Sall. J. 50, 4.—
III. Trop.: “Quojus ego hodie ludificabor corium, si vivo, probe,” i. e. cut up, lash, Plaut. Most. 5, 1, 19 Lorenz.
