jest

[jest]

SEE MORE 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

Related formsjest·ful, adjectivejest·ing·ly, adverbout·jest, verb (used with object)un·jest·ing, adjectiveun·jest·ing·ly, adverb

Can be confusedgist jest just

Synonyms for jest

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR jest ON THESAURUS.COM

1. quip. See joke. 2. jape, gibe. 4. butt.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for jest

one-liner, hoax, gag, laugh, wisecrack, rib, pleasantry, prank, funny, sport, quip, jolly, crack, play, banter, game, witticism, spoof, sally, ridicule

Examples from the Web for jest

Contemporary Examples of jest

After a while, he began to jest that there were snipers across the street trying to get him.
Doug Kenney: The Odd Comic Genius Behind ‘Animal House’ and National Lampoon
Robert Sam Anson
March 1, 2014
Rawcus has to provide a solid argument in his rhetoric to make such an accusation, even in jest.
Rawcus Is the Rapper Behind the Viral ‘White People Crazy’ Video
Rich Goldstein
January 29, 2014
And this explosion was fictional and in jest, so you can call it a pretty big hoot!
‘American Hustle’ Is Overrated
Kevin Fallon
January 28, 2014
It may have been said in jest, but a legion of Hollywood actresses would have nodded ruefully in unison.
Why Meryl Is So Special
Tim Teeman
January 16, 2014
But he tells me the line was “said in jest” and that “there is no clue there.”
If You’re Hunting for Forrest Fenn’s Buried Treasure, Start Here
Tony Doukopil
March 1, 2013

Historical Examples of jest

"I jest can't keep him off the streets nights," was his chief complaint.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
Say, you come out with me some night jest in your workin' clothes.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
But you can last longer if you jest keep the system in mind a little.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
She says it's the only place fur folks with money, jest like you say.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
And jest when I was lookin' forward to luxury and palaces in England, and everything so grand!
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for jest

jest

noun

something done or said for amusement; joke

a frivolous mood or attitude; playfulness; funto 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 Formsjestful, adjectivejesting, adjective, nounjestingly, adverb

Word Origin for jest

C13: variant of gest

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

Word Origin and History for jest

early 13c., geste, "narrative of exploits," from Old French geste "action, exploit," from Latin gesta "deeds," neuter plural of gestus, past participle of gerere "to carry, behave, act, perform" (see gest). Sense descended through "idle tale" (late 15c.) to "mocking speech, raillery" (1540s) to "joke" (1550s).

1520s, "to speak in a trifling manner;" 1550s, "to joke," from Middle English gesten "recite a tale" (late 14c.), from geste (see jest (n.)). Sense of "to speak in a trifling manner" is from 1520s. Related: Jested; jesting.