I.inf. ludier, Ter. Ad. 4, 3, 16), 3, v. a. and n. root lud- for loid-, from Sanscr. krīd, to play; cf. laus and cluere from Sanscr. root cru-, to play.
I. Lit., to play, play at a game of some kind: “tesseris,” Ter. Ad. 4, 7, 21: “aleā ludere,” Cic. Phil. 2, 23, 56: “pilā et duodecim scriptis,” id. de Or. 1, 50, 217; 1, 16, 73; 2, 62, 253: “cum pila,” id. Tusc. 5, 20, 60: “trocho,” Hor. C. 3, 24, 56: “nucibus,” Mart. 14, 1, 12: “pilā,” Val. Max. 8, 8, 2: “positā luditur arcā,” with one's whole cash-box staked, Juv. 1, 90: “eburnis quadrigis cotidie in abaco,” Suet. Ner. 22: “apud quem alea lusum esse dicetur,” Dig. 11, 5, 1 praef.: “senatus consultum vetuit in pecuniam ludere,” to play for money, ib. 11, 5, 2: “ego nisi quom lusim nil morer ullum lucrum,” Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 22. —
(β).
With acc.: “aleam,” Suet. Aug. 70; id. Claud. 33; id. Ner. 30: “par impar,” id. Aug. 71; Hor. S. 2, 3, 248: “ducatus et imperia,” Suet. Ner. 35: “Trojam,” id. Caes. 39; id. Ner. 7: “proelia latronum,” Ov. A. A. 3, 357; cf. pass.: “sunt aliis scriptae, quibus alea luditur, artes,” id. Tr. 2, 471: “alea luditur,” Juv. 8, 10: “aleae ludendae causa,” Dig. 11, 5, 1 praef.: “alea ludebatur,” ib. 11, 5, 1, § 2.—
(γ).
Absol.: “lusimus per omnes dies,” Suet. Aug. 71; 94; cf.: “ludis circensibus elephantos lusisse,” appeared in the public games, Liv. 44, 18, 8.—In sup.: “dimittere lusum,” Varr. Sat. Men. 53, 7.—
B. To play, sport, frisk, frolic: “dum se exornat, nos volo Ludere inter nos,” have some fun, Plaut. Stich. 5, 4, 20: “ludere armis,” Lucr. 2, 631: “suppeditant et campus noster et studia venandi honesta exempla ludendi,” Cic. Off. 1, 29, 104: “ad ludendumne, an ad pugnandum, arma sumturi,” id. de Or. 2, 20, 84: “in numerum,” dance, Verg. E. 6, 28: “hic juvenum series teneris immixta puellis ludit,” Tib. 1, 3, 64: “cumque marinae In sicco ludunt fulicae,” Verg. G. 1, 363: “in exiguo cymba lacu,” Ov. Tr. 2, 330. —
II. Trop.
A. To sport, play with any thing, to practise as a pastime, amuse one's self with any thing: “illa ipsa ludens conjeci in communes locos, Cic. Par. prooem.: Prima Syracosio dignata est ludere versu Nostra ... Thalia,” Verg. E. 6, 1.—Esp., to play on an instrument of music, to make or compose music or song: “ludere quae vellem calamo permisit agresti,” Verg. E. 1, 10: “talia fumosi luduntur mense Decembri,” Ov. Tr. 2, 491: “quod tenerae cantent, lusit tua musa, puellae,” id. Am. 3, 1, 27: “coloni Versibus incomptis ludunt,” Verg. G. 2, 386: “carmina pastorum,” id. ib. 4, 565; Suet. Ner. 3: “si quid vacui sub umbra Lusimus tecum,” Hor. C. 1, 22, 2.—
B. To sport, dally, wanton (cf. "amorous play," Milton, P. L. 9, 1045): “scis solere illam aetatem tali ludo ludere,” Plaut. Most. 5, 2, 36: affatim edi, bibi, lusi, Liv. Andron. ap. Paul. ex Fest. s. v. affatim, p. 11 Müll.; cf.: “lusisti satis, edisti satis, atque bibisti,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 214; Ov. A. A. 2, 389; Cat. 61, 207; Suet. Tib. 44; Mart. 11, 104, 5.—
C. Ludere aliquem or aliquid, to play, mock, imitate, mimic a person or thing (only in mockery; cf.: partes agere, etc.): civem bonum ludit, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 9, 1; cf.: “ludere opus,” to imitate work, make believe work, Hor. S. 2, 3, 252: “magistratum fascibus purpurāque,” App. M. 11, p. 260 fin.: “ludere causas,” Calp. Ecl. 1, 45: impia dum Phoebi Caesar mendacia ludit, Poët. ap. Suet. Aug. 70.—
E. To spend in play or amusement, to sport away: “otium,” Mart. 3, 67, 9.—Hence, ludere operam, to throw away one's labor, to labor in vain, Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 135.—
F. To make sport or game of a person, to ridicule, rally, banter: “Domitius in senatu lusit Appium collegam,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 15 a, 13: “satis jocose aliquem ludere,” id. ib. 2, 12, 2: “omnium irrisione ludi,” id. de Or. 1, 12, 50.—Rarely with ad: “caput aselli, ad quod lascivi ludebant ruris alumni,” Juv. 11, 98.—
G. To delude, deceive: “auditis, an me ludit amabilis Insania?” Hor. C. 3, 4, 5; Ov. A. A. 3, 332: “custodes,” Tib. 1, 6, 9; 3, 4, 7.—Comp.: “hoc civili bello, quam multa (haruspicum responsa) luserunt,” i. e. gave wanton, deceptive responses, Cic. Div. 2, 24, 53.
