facetiae

American  

[fuh-see-shee-ee] / fəˈsi ʃiˌi /

plural noun

1. amusing or witty remarks or writings.

2. Older Use. pornographic books or other writings.

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facetiae British  

/ fəˈsiːʃɪˌiː /

plural noun

1. humorous or witty sayings

2. obscene or coarsely witty books

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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.