Dictionary

cachinnation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /kækɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

Etymology

Etymology tree English cachinnate Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English -ion English cachinnation From cachinnate + -ion.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Loud, convulsive laughter.
   • While reforming the language I crave leave to introduce an improvement of punctuation—the snigger point, or note of cachinnation. It is written thus ‿ and represents, as early as may be, a smiling mouth. 1912, Ambrose Bierce, “For Brevity and Clarity”, in The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, volume 11, pages 386–387:
   • After midnight their shrill notes burst into a kind of pandemoniac cachinnation which filled all the countryside, and not until dawn did they finally quiet down. 1928, H. P. Lovecraft, The Dunwich Horror:
   • Mr. Palmer had a keen perception of the ludicrous; he was naturally a humourist, which was indicated by a peculiar twinkle of the eye-lid at those times when he determined to repress a hearty cachinnation, and pursue the subject that tickled him to its utmost. 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter LVIII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 116:
   • His shrill, mirthless cachinnation followed Monica as she headed up-hill. 1920, Peter B. Kyne, chapter V, in The Understanding Heart:

Forms

Relateds

cachinnatory · cachinnator