lūdĭcer or lūdī̆crus (nom. sing. m. is not used), cra, crum, adj. [ludus],
I that serves for sport, done in sport, sportive : ars, Plaut. Aul. 4, 3, 3: exercitatio, Cic. N. D. 1, 37, 102: sermones, id. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 2, 6: ludicrae artes sunt, quae ad voluptatem oculorum atque aurium tendunt, Sen. Ep. 88, 22: ludicras partes sustinere, to appear on the stage , Suet. Ner. 11: certamen, Vell. 1, 8, 1: tibiae, which were played in the theatre , Plin. 16, 36, 66, § 172: in modum ludicrum, Tac. A. 14, 14: versus et cetera ludicra pono, Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 10: quibus (juvenibus) id ludicrum est, Tac. G. 24: solemnibus epulis ludicra, id. A. 1, 50: hac lege excipiuntur qui artem ludicram faciunt, actors , Paul. Sent. 5, 26, 2; so, quae artem ludicram fecerit, Ulp. Fragm. 13, 1 sq.
II —Hence, lūdī̆-crum , i, n.
1 A show, public games; a scenic show, stage-play : Olympiorum solemne ludicrum, Liv. 28, 7, 14: Isthmiorum statum ludicrum aderat, id. 33, 32, 1; 34, 41, 1: iisdem fere diebus sollemne erat ludicrum Isthmiorum, Curt. 4, 5, 11: indulserat ei ludicro Augustus, Suet. Aug. 43: coronae ludicro quaesitae, won in the public games , Plin. 21, 3, 5, § 7; cf.: quid maris extremos Arabas ditantis et Indos, Ludicra quid, etc., Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 7 Orell. ad loc.—
2 A sport, toy, means of sport : quos (ramulos) Hamadryades deae ludicrum sibi rosido nutriunt umore, Cat. 61, 24; cf.: urbes duae, quae in proverbii ludicrum vertere, Apina et Trica, sport , Plin. 3, 11, 16, § 104.— Plur. : et versus et cetera ludicra pono, trifles , Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 10; cf. K. and H. ad Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 7.— Hence, adv.: lūdī̆crē , in sport, playfully (ante- and post-class.): pars ludicre saxa jactant, Enn. ap. Non. 134, 14 (Ann. v. 76 Vahl.): tractare aliquem, Ap. Met. 9, 7, 17.