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Webster 1913 Edition

Laugh

Laugh

(läf)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Laughed
(läft)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Laughing
.]
[OE.
laughen
,
laghen
,
lauhen
, AS.
hlehhan
,
hlihhan
,
hlyhhan
,
hliehhan
; akin to OS.
hlahan
, D. & G.
lachen
, OHG.
hlahhan
,
lahhan
,
lahhēn
, Icel.
hlæja
,W Dan.
lee
, Sw.
le
, Goth.
hlahjan
; perh. of imitative origin.]
1.
To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter.
Queen Hecuba
laughed
that her eyes ran o’er.
Shakespeare
He
laugheth
that winneth.
Heywood's Prov.
2.
Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
Then
laughs
the childish year, with flowerets crowned.
Dryden.
In Folly's cup still
laughs
the bubble Joy.
Pope.
To laugh at
,
to make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride.

–
To laugh in the sleeve
,
To laugh up one's sleeve
,
to laugh secretly, or so as not to be observed, especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at.
–
To laugh out
,
to laugh in spite of some restraining influence; to laugh aloud.
–
To laugh out of the other corner of the mouth
or
To laugh out of the other side of the mouth
,
to weep or cry; to feel regret, vexation, or disappointment after hilarity or exaltation.
[Slang]

Laugh

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
Will you
laugh
me asleep, for I am very heavy?
Shakespeare
I shall
laugh
myself to death.
Shakespeare
2.
To express by, or utter with, laughter; – with out.
From his deep chest
laughs
out a loud applause.
Shakespeare
To laugh away
.
(a)
To drive away by laughter;
as,
to laugh away
regret
.
(b)
To waste in hilarity.
“Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.”
Shak.
–
To laugh down
.
(a)
To cause to cease or desist by laughter; as, to laugh down a speaker.
(b)
To cause to be given up on account of ridicule; as, to laugh down a reform.
–
To laugh one out of
,
to cause one by laughter or ridicule to abandon or give up;
as,
to laugh one out of
a plan or purpose
.
–
To laugh to scorn
,
to deride; to treat with mockery, contempt, and scorn; to despise.

Laugh

,
Noun.
An expression of mirth peculiar to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter. See
Laugh
,
Verb.
I.
And the loud
laugh
that spoke the vacant mind.
Goldsmith.
That man is a bad man who has not within him the power of a hearty
laugh
.
F. W. Robertson.

Webster 1828 Edition

Laugh

LAUGH

,
Verb.
I.
l'aff. [Heb.]
1.
To make the noise and exhibit the features which are characteristic of mirth in the human species. Violent laughter is accompanied with a shaking of the sides, and all laughter expels breath from the lungs.
2.
In poetry, to be gay; to appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, lively or brilliant.
Then laughs the childish year with flow'rets crown'd.
And o'er the foaming bowl, the laughing wine.
To laugh at, to ridicule; to treat with some degree of contempt.
No fool to laugh at, which he valued more.
To laugh to scorn, to deride; to treat with mockery, contempt and scorn. Neh. 2.

LAUGH

,
Noun.
l'aff. An expression of mirth peculiar to the human species.
But feigns a laugh, to see me search around, and by that laugh the willing fair is found.

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