1 ضَحِكَ ذ , (S, MA, O, Msb, K, &c.,) and some say ضِحِكْتُ , with kesr to the ض , (TA, as from the K, [but not in the CK nor in my MS. copy of the K,]) to agree with the vowel of the ح because the latter is a faucial letter, and this is a correct dial. var. of which similar instances are mentioned, and ضَحَكَ also is said to be a well known dial. var. of ضَحِكَ , (TA,) aor. ضَحَكَ , (S. O,) inf. n. ضَحِكٌ and ضِحْكٌ (S, MA, O, Msb, K, KL) and ضَحْكٌ , (S, MA, O, K, KL,) the first of which is the superior form, (IDrd, O,) [the second and third being contractions thereof,] and ضِحِكٌ , (S, O, K, KL,) and if you said ضَحَكٌ it would be agreeable with analogy, (Az, TA,) He laughed; (MA, KL, PS, TK;) contr. of بَكَى : (TK:) [see also 6:] الضَّحِكُ is well known, as meaning the expanding of the face, and displaying of the teeth, by reason of happiness, joy, or gladness; and التَّبَسُّمُ is the beginning thereof: thus in the Towsheeh and other works: (MF, TA:) and in like manner in the Mufradát [of Er-Rághib]; in which it is added that it is also used as meaning simply the being happy, joyful, or glad: and sometimes as meaning simply the wondering [at a thing]; and this is the meaning intended by him who says that it is peculiar to man: (TA:) [i. e.] ضَحِكَ , said of a man, signifies also he wondered; syn. عَجِبَ ; (O, K, TA;) with مِنْ preposed to the object of wonder: (TA:) or he was frightened; or he feared. (K, TA.) You say, ضَحِكَ مِنْهُ and بِهِ , both meaning the same, (S, O, Msb,) i. e. He laughed at him; derided him; or ridiculed him: or he wondered at him. (Msb.) And ضَحِكَ إِلَيْهِ [ He behaved laughingly, or cheerfully, towards him ]. (IDrd and K in art. بش [See بَشَّ لَهُ .]) -b2- Said of an ape, He uttered a cry or cries: (K:) or one says of the ape when he utters a cry or cries, يَضْحَكُ , (S, TA,) meaning he displays his teeth, or grins. (TA.) -b3- And ضَحِكَ السَّحَابُ (tropical:) The clouds lightened. (S, O, K, TA.) Hence the usage of the verb in a trad.

3 مُضَاحَكَةٌ ذ [inf. n. of ضاحكهُ ] signifies [The contending, or vying, in laughing, with another; or the laughing with another; or] the laughing together. (KL.) -b2- [Hence,] one says, النَّوْرُ يُضَاحِكُ الشَّمْسَ (assumed tropical:) [ The flowers vie in brightness with the sun ]. (TA.) -b3- And إِنَّ رَأْيَكَ لَيُضَاحِكُ المُشْكِلَاتِ (tropical:) [ Verily thy judgment makes sport with ambiguities ]; said to him to whom confused and dubious things are apparent and known. (TA.)

4 اضحكهُ ذ , (S, O, K,) inf. n. إِضْحَاكٌ , (KL,) said of God, (S, O,) or of a man, (K,) He made him, or caused him, to laugh. (S, * O, * K, * KL, PS.) -b2- [Hence,] اضحك الضَّبُعَ , said of blood, (TA,) or of the sword, (O, TA,) (assumed tropical:) [ It made the hyena to display her teeth; or to snarl, displaying her teeth: or to rejoice: (see 1, latter part:) but explained as meaning] (tropical:) it made the hyena to menstruate. (TA.) -b3- And اضحك الحَوْضَ (tropical:) He filled the wateringtrough so that it overflowed: (O, TA:) its glistening being likened to laughing. (TA.) -b4- See also 1, near the middle of the paragraph.

5 تَضَحَّكَ see the next paragraph.

6 تضاحك ذ and [are both mentioned in the K and TA as though syn. with each other and with ضَحِكَ : and accord. to the KL, the former signifies He laughed: but accord. to the TK, the latter signifies he manifested laughing: or] the former is syn. with [app. as meaning he affected to laugh, or laughing: or, more exactly, agreeably with analogy, like the contr. تَبَاكَى and اِسْتَبْكَى , the former signifies thus; and the latter, he desired to laugh ]. (S.) -b2- And you say also, هُمْ يَتَضَاحَكُونَ [meaning They laugh together, one with another ]. (K.)