Lewis & Short

lūdĭfĭcor, ātus sum, 1, v. dep. n. and a. [id.] (inf. ludificarier, Plaut. Mil. 4, 4, 25), to make game, to mock; to make game of, make sport of, turn into ridicule; to delude, deceive.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. Neutr.: aperte ludificari et calumniari, to mock, ridicule, Cic. Rosc. Am. 20, 55.
      With acc. of kindred signif.: nugas ludificabitur, will make game of you in trifles, Plaut. Capt. 3, 4, 80.
    2. B. Act.: Potin’ ut hominem mihi des? … ni ludificata ero lepide, etc., Plaut. Mil. 3, 3, 53: tun me, verbero, audes erum ludificari? id. Am. 2, 1, 15: me ludificatus est, id. Most. 5, 2, 25: virginem, Ter. Eun. 4, 3, 3: siquidem tu me hic etiam, nebulo, ludificabere, id. ib. 4, 4, 49: patres et plebem cunctatione fictā, Tac. A. 1, 46: aliena mala, to make sport of, Plin. Ep. 6, 20.
  2. II. Transf., to thwart, frustrate, by tricks or contrivances: locationem, Liv. 39. 44: ea, quae hostes agerent, id. 24, 34: rostra fuga, Flor. 2, 2, 8: hostis impune Romanum ludificabatur, Tac. A. 3, 21.
    Pass. part.: ludificato incerto proelio, Sall. J. 50, 4.
  3. III. Trop.: Quojus ego hodie ludificabor corium, si vivo, probe, i. e. cut up, lash, Plaut. Most. 5, 1, 19 Lorenz.