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Webster 1913 Edition

Laughter

Laugh′ter

,
Noun.
[AS.
hleahtor
; akin to OHG.
hlahtar
, G.
gelächter
, Icel.
hlātr
, Dan.
latter
. See
Laugh
,
Verb.
I.
]
A movement (usually involuntary) of the muscles of the face, particularly of the lips, with a peculiar expression of the eyes, indicating merriment, satisfaction, or derision, and usually attended by a sonorous and interrupted expulsion of air from the lungs. See
Laugh
,
Verb.
I.
The act of
laughter
, which is a sweet contraction of the muscles of the face, and a pleasant agitation of the vocal organs, is not merely, or totally within the jurisdiction of ourselves.
Sir T. Browne.
Archly the maiden smiled, and with eyes overrunning with
laughter
.
Longfellow.

Webster 1828 Edition

Laughter

LAUGHTER

,
Noun.
l'affter. Convulsive merriment; an expression of mirth peculiar to man, consisting in a peculiar noise and configuration of features, with a shaking of the sides and expulsion of breath.
I said of laughter, it is mad. Eccles. 2.

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