from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Ridiculous \Ri*dic"u*lous\, a. [L. ridiculosus, ridiculus, fr.
ridere to laigh. Cf. {Risible}.]
1. Fitted to excite ridicule; absurd and laughable; unworthy
of serious consideration; as, a ridiculous dress or
behavior.
[1913 Webster]
Agricola, discerning that those little targets and
unwieldy glaives ill pointed would soon become
ridiculous against the thrust and close, commanded
three Batavian cohorts . . . to draw up and come to
handy strokes. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. Involving or expressing ridicule. [R.]
[1913 Webster]
[It] provokes me to ridiculous smiling. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Ludicrous; laughable; risible; droll; comical; absurd;
preposterous. See {Ludicrous}.
[1913 Webster] --- {Ri*dic"u*lous*ly}, adv. --
{Ri*dic"u*lous*ness}, n.
[1913 Webster]