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}]
more about jest
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