facetious
[fuh-see-shuh s]
adjective
not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark.
amusing; humorous.
lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous: a facetious person.
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RELATED WORDS
jokingly, amusingly, merrily, ridiculously, absurdly, ironically, jocosely, jovially, ludicrously, playfully, satirically, jocularly
Nearby words
- facet joint,
- facete,
- facetectomy,
- facetely,
- facetiae,
- faceup,
- facia,
- facial,
- facial angle,
- facial artery
Origin of facetious
Usage note
A term labeled Facetious in this dictionary is one that is used consciously for humorous or playful effect.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for facetiously
facetious
adjective
Word Origin for facetious
C16: from Old French facetieux, from facetie witty saying; see facetiae
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
facetious
1590s, from French facétieux, from facétie "a joke" (15c.), from Latin facetia "jest, witticism," from facetus "witty, elegant, fine, courteous," of unknown origin, perhaps related to facis "torch."
It implies a desire to be amusing, often intrusive or ill-timed. Related: Facetiously; facetiousness. "Facetiæ in booksellers' catalogues, is, like curious, a euphemism for erotica." [Fowler]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper