jest
[jest]
- 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.
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- 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.
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- to deride or joke at; banter.
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Origin of jest
Synonyms
See more synonyms for jest on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for jest
Contemporary Examples
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 LampoonRobert Sam Anson
March 1, 2014
Rawcus has to provide a solid argument in his rhetoric to make such an accusation, even in jest.
And this explosion was fictional and in jest, so you can call it a pretty big hoot!
It may have been said in jest, but a legion of Hollywood actresses would have nodded ruefully in unison.
But he tells me the line was “said in jest” and that “there is no clue there.”
Historical Examples
Say, you come out with me some night jest in your workin' clothes.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
"I jest can't keep him off the streets nights," was his chief complaint.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
But you can last longer if you jest keep the system in mind a little.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
She says it's the only place fur folks with money, jest like you say.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
And jest when I was lookin' forward to luxury and palaces in England, and everything so grand!
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
jest
- 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
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- to act or speak in an amusing, teasing, or frivolous way; joke
- to make fun of (a person or thing); scoff or mock
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Word Origin
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
n.
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).
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v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper