ludere

Ludere is a Latin verb meaning to play, sport, or take part in a game, and it can also carry senses such as to jest, to joke, or to mock in certain contexts. In classical usage it covers both physical games and more formal entertainments, including theatrical performances, as reflected in the related noun ludus, which can mean a game, a sport, or a school and theater setting.

Grammatically, ludere is a third-conjugation verb. Its principal parts are lūdō, lūdere, lūsī, lūsum, giving the essential paradigm for tense and mood formation. In present tense, active voice forms follow the regular third-conjugation pattern (for example, Puer pila lūdit = The boy plays with the ball). The imperfect and perfect tenses likewise follow standard patterns: lūdēbam (I was playing) and lūsī (I played). The verb governs a direct object in many uses, such as playing a game or a ball (ludere pilā), or can describe performing in a play or sport.

Derived forms and related terms include the noun ludus (play, game, school, or theater) and adjectives such as ludic, appearing in English through terms like ludicrous or ludic arts. In compounds, ludere also contributes to meanings related to deception or evasion, as in deludere (to deceive) and eludere (to elude).

See also: ludus, deludere, eludere, ludic.

This article aims to summarize the core meaning, grammar, and linguistic footprint of ludere in classical Latin usage.