facetiae
Americanplural noun
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amusing or witty remarks or writings.
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Older Use. pornographic books or other writings.
plural noun
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humorous or witty sayings
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obscene or coarsely witty books
Etymology
Origin of facetiae
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin, plural of facētia “something witty, a joke”; see facete, -ia
Explanation
Facetiae is a plural noun that refers to witty sayings, clever jokes, and humorous writings. If you have a collection of joke books on your shelf, you have facetiae. Facetiae comes from the Latin word facetia, meaning "wit" or "cleverness." The word describes a genre of literature focused on humor and wit. Collections of facetiae were quite popular during the Renaissance. Educated readers enjoyed the short, pithy anecdotes and sharp-witted observations found in such collections. In later times, the term became a euphemism used in libraries as a label for more edgy writings or ribald humor. Today, a collection of facetiae likely includes works with a sophisticated style of comedy relying more on wordplay and irony than simple slapstick.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The myth of Qat is a jungle of facetiae and frolic, with one or two serious incidents, such as the beginning of Death and the coming of Night.
From The Making of Religion by Andrew Lang
Both facetiae and lepos mean "agreeableness, humor, pleasantry," but lepos here seems to refer to diction, as in Cic.
From Conspiracy of Catiline and the Jurgurthine War by John Selby Watson
The second room, announced by the word "Counting-Room" on its door, harmonized with the grim facetiae of its neighbor.
From Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau by Honoré de Balzac
The "Mathematical Problem", one of his juvenile facetiae in rhyme, was thus heralded with a letter addressed to his brother George explaining the import of the doggerel.
From Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1. by A. Turnbull
Fancy a party in a country-house now looking over Woodward's facetiae or some of the Gilray comicalities, or the slatternly Saturnalia of Rowlandson!
From John Leech's Pictures of Life and Character by William Makepeace Thackeray
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