lusus

1.

lūsus, a, um, Part., from ludo.

2.

lūsus, ūs, m. [ludo], a playing, play, game (not in Cic.).

I.

Lit.:

virgineis exercent lusibus undas Naides,

Ov. M. 14, 556:

aleae,

Suet. Calig. 41:

calculorum,

Plin. Ep. 7, 24:

nec me offenderit lusus in pueris,

Quint. 1, 3, 10; cf. id. 1, 1, 20:

eburneas litterarum formas in lusum offerre,

id. 1, 1, 26:

ediscere inter lusum,

id. 1, 1, 36:

in lusu duodecim scriptorum,

id. 11, 2, 38:

regnum lusu sortiri,

i. e. by throwing dice, Tac. A. 13, 15:

solent quidam et cogere ad lusum,

Dig. 11, 5, 2. —

II.

Transf.

A.

Play, sport, game (that is done by way of amusement):

fas est et carmine remitti, non dico continuo ac longo, sed hoc arguto et brevi. Lusus vocantur,

Plin. Ep. 7, 9, 10:

Trojae lusum exhibuit,

Suet. Claud. 21.—

B.

Sportive dalliance, toying:

sunt apti lusibus anni,

Ov. Am. 2, 3, 13; Prop. 1, 10, 9.—

C.

Jest, fun, mockery:

dant de se respondentibus venustissimos lusus,

i. e. make themselves ridiculous, Quint. 5, 13, 46:

lusum ludere aliquem,

Gell. 18, 13, 4.