Ludicrousness

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ludicrous \Lu"di*crous\, a. [L. ludicrus, or ludicer, from ludus
     play, sport, fr. ludere to play.]
     1. Adapted to excite laughter, without scorn or contempt;
        sportive. --Broome.
        [1913 Webster]
  


              A chapter upon German rhetoric would be in the same
              ludicrous predicament as Van Troil's chapter on the
              snakes of Iceland, which delivers its business in
              one summary sentence, announcing, that snakes in
              Iceland -- there are none.            --De Quincey.
  
     2. Ridiculously absurd.
        [PJC]
  
     Syn: Laughable; sportive; burlesque; comic; droll;
          ridiculous.
  
     Usage: {Ludicrous}, {Laughable}, {Ridiculous}. We speak of a
            thing as ludicrous when it tends to produce laughter;
            as laughable when the impression is somewhat stronger;
            as ridiculous when more or less contempt is mingled
            with the merriment created. -- {Lu"di*crous*ly}, adv.
            -- {Lu"di*crous*ness}, n.
            [1913 Webster]