plaudere

Plaudere is a Latin verb of the third conjugation meaning to clap, to applaud, or more generally to express approval or praise. In classical Latin it covers both the act of clapping with the hands and the broader sense of praising or approving something or someone.

The principal parts of the verb are plaudō, plaudere, plausī, plausum. It is active in voice and commonly appears with direct objects or with phrases indicating the thing being praised or applauded. The imperative forms include plaude (singular) and plaudite (plural), used to command an audience to applaud or express approval.

A related noun is plausus or plausus, plausūs, often translated as applause or clapping. The verb also yields other derivatives, and its sense of approval contributed to the formation of related Latin adjectives such as plausibilis, meaning worthy of applause or plausible. The meaning behind plaudere is the root of the English verb applaud and the noun applause, via Romance languages such as French applaudir and Spanish aplaudir.

In usage, plaudere appears in contexts ranging from theater and public speaking to general praise. It can denote the physical act of clapping as well as the act of commendation or favorable reception of a performance, decision, or statement. The term thus sits at the intersection of gesture and judgment, reflecting social approval in classical literary and oratorical settings.