jest

[ jest ]

/ dʒɛst /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR jest ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a joke or witty remark; witticism.

a bantering remark; a piece of good-natured ridicule; taunt.

sport or fun: to speak half in jest, half in earnest.

the object of laughter, sport, or mockery; laughing-stock.

Obsolete. an exploit. Compare gest.

verb (used without object)

to speak in a playful, humorous, or facetious way; joke.

to speak or act in mere sport, rather than in earnest; trifle (often followed by with): Please don't jest with me.

to utter derisive speeches; gibe or scoff.

verb (used with object)

to deride or joke at; banter.

Origin of jest

1250–1300; Middle English; variant spelling of gest

SYNONYMS FOR jest

1 quip. See joke.

2 jape, gibe.

4 butt.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR jest ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM jest

jest·ful, adjective jest·ing·ly, adverb out·jest, verb (used with object) un·jest·ing, adjective

un·jest·ing·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jest

gist jest just

Words nearby jest

jesse, jesse window, jesselton, jessica, jessie, jest, jestbook, jester, jesu, jesuit, jesuit ware

Example sentences from the Web for jesting

The feasting had given place to wine-drinking, songs and jesting.

Masters of the Guild |L. Lamprey
Who could venture a bet against a parasite, whether in jesting or feasting?

History of English Humour, Vol. 1 (of 2) |Alfred Guy Kingan L'Estrange
He held out both his hands; she came, and placed herself beside him, all her jesting subdued.

Agatha's Husband |Dinah Maria Craik (AKA: Dinah Maria Mulock)
"I am not jesting with you, if you are not jesting with her," the other replied.

The Mystery of the Clasped Hands |Guy Boothby

And were not trusting lovers and all too-confiding husbands the legitimate butt of all jesting?

Under the Rose |Frederic Stewart Isham

British Dictionary definitions for jesting

jest

/ (dʒɛst) /

noun

something done or said for amusement; joke

a frivolous mood or attitude; playfulness; fun to act in jest

a jeer or taunt

an object of derision; laughing stock; butt

verb

to act or speak in an amusing, teasing, or frivolous way; joke

to make fun of (a person or thing); scoff or mock

Derived forms of jest

jestful, adjective jesting, adjective, noun jestingly, adverb

Word Origin for jest

C13: variant of gest

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

jest

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of jest

SYNONYMS FOR jest

OTHER WORDS FROM jest

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jest

Words nearby jest

Example sentences from the Web for jesting

British Dictionary definitions for jesting

noun

verb

Derived forms of jest

Word Origin for jest

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

jest

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of jest

SYNONYMS FOR jest

OTHER WORDS FROM jest

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jest

Words nearby jest

Words related to jesting

Example sentences from the Web for jesting

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for jesting

noun

verb

Derived forms of jest

Word Origin for jest

British Dictionary definitions for jesting