Lusory

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈluːzəɹi/

Definitions

1. Relating to or denoting a framework of playful activities or games that involve rules and objectives, the term encompasses both the spirit of play and the structural aspects of gameplay
2. It refers to elements that pertain to game-like experiences, including the enjoyment of structured competition and the adherence to specific guidelines of play
3. The concept involves elements associated with playful interaction in a competitive context, emphasizing enjoyment as well as the regulatory framework that governs such activities

Etymology: Few English words owe their modern life to a single book, and this one does. It comes from Latin "ludere", "to play", and "lusor", a player or gamester, with the adjective "lusorius" passing through Late Latin into English. Its close relatives include "ludicrous" and "ludic", both drawn from the same root of play. The word was revived by the philosopher Bernard Suits in his book "The Grasshopper: Games, Life and Utopia." Suits argued that playing a game means voluntarily accepting rules that make a pointless goal worth pursuing. A golfer, for instance, could reach the hole in a few steps but chooses to hit a ball with clubs instead. Suits called this willing acceptance the "lusory attitude," and the phrases "lusory goal" and "lusory means" come from the same idea.