ludicer Latin · revision 32894

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *loid-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɫuː.dɪ.kɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈluː.di.t͡ʃer]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lūdicer''' (feminine lūdicra, neuter lūdicrum); first/second-declension adjective (nominative masculine singular in -er)^(Wiktionary)

+ The masculine nominative singular is not attested;^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short also give ''lūdicrus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) A spelling ''lūdicus'' appears in the ''Lex Iulia municipalis''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[ludus|alt=lūdus]] “play”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The OLD suggests a back-formation from the noun [[ludicrum|alt=lūdicrum]], but Wiktionary reports Sen's view that the adjective, attested earlier, came first.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|lūdus]] to [[itc-pro|*loido-|t=play]] and [[ine-pro|*loid-|t=to let go frequently, play]], comparing [[grc|λίζει|tr=lízei|t=plays]] in Hesychius and [[lt|léisti|t=to let]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Lewis & Short have it first in Plautus, of an art for amusement;^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates it from Ennius.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is to do with sport and play, and of fighting done in fun: Cicero writes of boys delighting in some sporting exercise.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of talk and writing it is playful and light-hearted, as Cicero's playful conversations.^(OLD 2012) It also means belonging to the stage: Cicero writes of men who held the actor's art and the whole stage a disgrace.^(OLD 2012) Seneca defines the ''artēs lūdicrae'' as those that aim at the pleasure of eyes and ears.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of an art for amusement.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of sporting exercise, playful talk and the stage.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of the arts of entertainment.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or for [[m|en|sport]] or play; done in fun.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of talk or writing, [[m|en|playful]], light-hearted.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Of the stage, [[m|en|theatrical]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ludus|alt=lūdus]]

+ * [[ludicrum|alt=lūdicrum]]

+ * [[ludo|alt=lūdō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}