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more about jest
jest |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Jest \Jest\, n. [OE. jeste, geste, deed, action story, tale, OF geste, LL gesta, orig., exploits, neut. pl from L. gestus, p. p. of gerere to bear, carry, accomplish, perform; perh. orig., to make to come bring and perh. akin to E. come Cf {Gest} a deed, {Register}, n.] 1. A deed; an action a gest. [Obs.] The jests or actions of princes. --Sir T. Elyot. 2. A mask; a pageant; an interlude. [Obs.] --Nares. He promised us in honor of our guest, To grace our banquet with some pompous jest. --Kyd. 3. Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under {Jest}, v. i. I must be sad . . . smile at no man's jests. --Shak. The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts. --Sheridan. 4. The object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock. Then let me be your jest; I deserve it --Shak. {In jest}, for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest. And given in earnest what I begged in jest. --Shak. {Jest book}, a book containing a collection of jests, jokes, and amusing anecdotes; a Joe Miller. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Jest \Jest\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Jested}; p. pr & vb n. {Jesting}.] 1. To take part in a merrymaking; -- especially, to act in a mask or interlude. [Obs.] --Shak. 2. To make merriment by words or actions; to joke; to make light of anything He jests at scars that never felt a wound. --Shak. Syn: To joke; sport; rally. Usage: To {Jest}, {Joke}. One jests in order to make others laugh; one jokes to please himself. A jest is usually at the expense of another, and is often ill-natured; a joke is a sportive sally designed to promote good humor without wounding the feelings of its object. ``Jests are therefore, seldom harmless; jokes frequently allowable. The most serious subject may be degraded by being turned into a jest.'' --Crabb. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: jest n 1: a humorous anecdote or remark [syn: {joke}, {gag}, {laugh}, {jape}, {yak}, {wheeze}] 2: activity characterized by good humor [syn: {joke}, {jocularity}] v 1: tell a joke; speak humorously; "He often jokes even when he appears serious" [syn: {joke}] 2: act in a funny or teasing way [syn: {joke}]
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