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more about burlesque
burlesque |
5 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Burlesque \Bur*lesque"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Burlesqued}; p. pr & vb n. {Burlesquing}.] To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation in action or in language. They burlesqued the prophet Jeremiah's words and turned the expression he used into ridicule. --Stillingfleet. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Burlesque \Bur*lesque"\, v. i. To employ burlesque. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Burlesque \Bur*lesque"\, a. [F. burlesque, fr It burlesco fr burla jest, mockery, perh. for burrula dim. of L. burrae trifles. See {Bur}.] Tending to excite laughter or contempt by extravagant images, or by a contrast between the subject and the manner of treating it as when a trifling subject is treated with mock gravity; jocular; ironical. It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque poetry runs best in heroic verse, like that of the Dispensary, or in doggerel, like that of Hudibras --Addison. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Burlesque \Bur*lesque"\, n. 1. Ludicrous representation; exaggerated parody; grotesque satire. Burlesque is therefore of two kinds; the first represents mean persons in the accouterments of heroes, the other describes great persons acting and speaking like the basest among the people. --Addison. 2. An ironical or satirical composition intended to excite laughter, or to ridicule anything The dull burlesque appeared with impudence, And pleased by novelty in spite of sense --Dryden. 3. A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross perversion. Who is it that admires, and from the heart is attached to national representative assemblies, but must turn with horror and disgust from such a profane burlesque and abominable perversion of that sacred institute? --Burke. Syn: Mockery; farce; travesty; mimicry. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: burlesque adj : relating to or characteristic of a burlesque; "burlesque theater" n 1: a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes striptease) 2: a composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way [syn: {parody}, {lampoon}, {spoof}, {sendup}, {mockery}, {takeoff}, {travesty}, {charade}, {pasquinade}] v : make a parody of "The students spoofed the teachers" [syn: {spoof}, {parody}]
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