Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LAUGH, v.i. [l'aff; Sax. hlihan; Goth. hlahyan; G. lachen; D. lachgen; Sw. le; Dan. leer; Heb. and Ch. לעג. laag. Class Lg, No.17.]

1. To make the noise and exhibit the features which are characteristic of mirth in the human species. Violent laughter is accompanied with the shaking of the sides, and all laughter expels breath from the lungs. – Bacon.
2. In poetry, to be gay; to appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, lively or brilliant. Then laughs the childish year with flow'rets crown'd. Dryden. And o'er the foaming bowl, the laughing wine. – Pope. To laugh at, to ridicule; to treat with some degree of contempt. No fool to laugh at, which he valued more. – Pope. To laugh to scorn, to deride; to treat with mockery, contempt and scorn. Neh. ii.