Word Meanings - LAUGH - Book Publishers vocabulary database

hliehhan; akin to OS. hlahan, D. & G.lachen, OHG. hlahhan, lahhan, lahh, Icel. hlæja. Dan. lee, Sw. le, Goth. hlahjan; perh. of 1. To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly

Additional info about word: LAUGH

hliehhan; akin to OS. hlahan, D. & G.lachen, OHG. hlahhan, lahhan, lahh, Icel. hlæja. Dan. lee, Sw. le, Goth. hlahjan; perh. of 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. Shak. 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. No wit to flatter left of all his store, No fool to laugh at, which he valued more. Pope. -- To laugh in the 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, to weep or cry; to feel regret, vexation, or disappointment after hilarity or exaltation.

Related words: (words related to LAUGH)

• PECULIARIZE
  To make peculiar; to set appart or assign, as an exclusive possession. Dr. John Smith.
• PECULIARNESS
  The quality or state of being peculiar; peculiarity. Mede.
• PARTICULARLY
  1. In a particular manner; expressly; with a specific reference or interest; in particular; distinctly. 2. In an especial manner; in a high degree; as, a particularly fortunate man; a particularly bad failure. The exact propriety of Virgil
• PECULIARLY
  In a peculiar manner; particulary; in a rare and striking degree; unusually.
• PECULIAR
  1. One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not possessed by others; of private, personal, or characteristic possession and use; not owned in common or in participation. And purify unto himself a peculiar people. Titus ii. 14.
• MIRTHFUL
  1. Full of mirth or merriment; merry; as, mirthful children. 2. Indicating or inspiring mirth; as, a mirthful face. Mirthful, comic shows. Shak. -- Mirth"ful*ly, adv. -- Mirth"ful*ness, n.
• SATISFACTION
  1. The act of satisfying, or the state of being satisfied; gratification of desire; contentment in possession and enjoyment; repose of mind resulting from compliance with its desires or demands. The mind having a power to suspend the execution
• MIRTHLESS
  Without mirth. -- Mirth"less*ness, n.
• MOVEMENT
  A system of mechanism for transmitting motion of a definite character, or for transforming motion; as, the wheelwork of a watch. Febrille movement , an elevation of the body temperature; a fever. -- Movement cure. See Kinesiatrics. -- Movement
• DERISION
  1. The act of deriding, or the state of being derided; mockery; scornful or contemptuous treatment which holds one up to ridicule. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. Ps. ii. 4. Saderision
• MIRTH
  1. Merriment; gayety accompanied with laughter; jollity. Then will I cause to cease ... from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth. Jer. vii. 34. 2. That which causes merriment. Shak. Syn. -- Merriment; joyousness; gladness; fun; frolic;
• PECULIARITY
  1. The quality or state of being peculiar; individuality; singularity. Swift. 2. That which is peculiar; a special and distinctive characteristic or habit; particularity. The smallest peculiarity of temper on manner. Macaulay. 3. Exclusive
• UNSATISFACTION
  Dissatisfaction. Bp. Hall.
• UNDERMIRTH
  Suppressed or concealed mirth. The Coronation.
• INSATISFACTION
  1. Insufficiency; emptiness. Bacon. 2. Dissatisfaction. Sir T. Browne.
• DISSATISFACTION
  The state of being dissatisfied, unsatisfied, or discontented; uneasiness proceeding from the want of gratification, or from disappointed wishes and expectations. The ambitious man has little happiness, but is subject to much uneasiness
• COUNTERMOVE; COUNTERMOVEMENT
  A movement in opposition to another.
• SELF-SATISFACTION
  The quality or state of being self-satisfied.