laugh

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There follows a desexing section on maxims (for "He who laughs last laughs best" read "The last laugh is the best": not only does it not say the same thing but the second is totally lacking in the rhetorical devices packed into the first), and a two-page bibliography, reference notes to chapters, and an index.

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Definitions (36)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (15)

  1. intransitive verb To express certain emotions, especially mirth or delight, by a series of spontaneous, usually unarticulated sounds often accompanied by corresponding facial and bodily movements.
  2. intransitive verb To show or feel amusement or good humor: an experience we would laugh about later on.
  3. intransitive verb To feel or express derision or contempt; mock: I had to laugh when I saw who my opponent was.
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Examples

  • There follows a desexing section on maxims (for "He who laughs last laughs best" read "The last laugh is the best": not only does it not say the same thing but the second is totally lacking in the rhetorical devices packed into the first), and a two-page bibliography, reference notes to chapters, and an index. —  VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XV No 2
  • Rydall laughed, and his laugh was as big and deep as his voice and decidedly mean. —  Witches' Brew
  • You've got Gwen's lovely way of chattering all about your doings, Maureen " and even your laugh is the same " isn't it, Miss Winter? ' —  In the Fifth at Malory Towers
  • " Matsu laughed, and somewhere in the laugh was a moan. —  December 6
  • Still the laugh was a cry of pain. —  Elephant Song
 

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Words tagged laugh

lol · rofl

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Laugh has been looked up 432 times, favorited once, listed 30 times, and commented on 3 times.

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Related

Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

laughter ·  grin ·  chuckle ·  cry ·  whisper ·  sigh ·  tone ·  glance ·  sound ·  nod ·  humor ·  cheer
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English laughen, from Old English hlæhhan, probably ultimately of imitative origin.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Also spelled (dial.) laff, loff; Scots also lauch (preterit leugh, leuch); from Middle English laughen, lawghen, lauhen, laʒhen (preterit loghe, loʒh, luʒhe, etc.), from Anglo-Saxon hlehhan, hlihhan, hliehhan, hliehan, hlihan (preterit hlōh) = Old Saxon hlahan (preterit hlōg) = OFries, hlaka = Middle Dutch lachen (preterit loech, loegh, loeg), Dutch lagchen = Middle Low German lachen = Old High German hlahhan, lahhan (preterit hlōch), lachēn, Middle High German G. lachen = Icelandic hlæja (preterit hlō) = Danish le (preterit lo) = Swedish le (preterit log) = Gothic (Moesogothic) hlahjan (preterit hlōh), laugh; orig. imitative. The original guttural gh (ċh) has changed in English (but not in Scotch use) to, f, as also in cough, enough, trough, etc., though the change is not recognized by adjective change of spelling as in dwarf, draft for draught, etc.
  2. from laugh, v.
 

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/lɑf/
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