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jest

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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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