lūdĭfĭcor, ātus sum, 1, v. dep. n. and a. [ludus-facio] (inf. ludificarier, Plaut. Mil. 4, 4, 25), to make game, to mock; to make game of, make sport of, turn into ridicule; to delude, deceive.
I Lit.
A Neutr. : aperte ludificari et calumniari, to mock, ridicule , Cic. Rosc. Am. 20, 55.—With acc. of kindred signif.: nugas ludificabitur, will make game of you in trifles , Plaut. Capt. 3, 4, 80.—
B Act. : Potin' ut hominem mihi des? ... ni ludificata ero lepide, etc., Plaut. Mil. 3, 3, 53: tun me, verbero, audes erum ludificari? id. Am. 2, 1, 15: me ludificatus est, id. Most. 5, 2, 25: virginem, Ter. Eun. 645: siquidem tu me hic etiam, nebulo, ludificabere, id. ib. 717: patres et plebem cunctatione fictā, Tac. A. 1, 46: aliena mala, to make sport of , Plin. Ep. 6, 20.—
II Transf., to thwart, frustrate , by tricks or contrivances: locationem, Liv. 39. 44: ea, quae hostes agerent, id. 24, 34: rostra fuga, Flor. 2, 2, 8: hostis impune Romanum ludificabatur, Tac. A. 3, 21.— Pass. part. : ludificato incerto proelio, Sall. J. 50, 4.—
III Trop.: Quojus ego hodie ludificabor corium, si vivo, probe, i. e. cut up, lash , Plaut. Most. 5, 1, 19 Lorenz.