jest

[ jest ]

/ dʒɛst /

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.

Nearby words

jesse, jesse window, jesselton, jessica, jessie, jest, jestbook, jester, jesu, jesuit, jesuit ware

Origin of jest

1250–1300; Middle English; variant spelling of gest

SYNONYMS FOR jest

1 quip. See joke.

2 jape, gibe.

4 butt.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR jest ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

jest·ful, adjectivejest·ing·ly, adverbout·jest, verb (used with object)un·jest·ing, adjective

un·jest·ing·ly, adverb

Can be confusedgist jest just

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
Jest because she don't care for gewgaws like you do, you think she's a fool.
The Girl from Montana|Grace Livingston Hill
"Sandy'll plug Old Miles in jest another minnit," remarked Fresno.
The U.P. Trail|Zane Grey
Jest like a hornet's nest: shake a stick at ary one o' the group, an' they all come buzzin' round te'ble miffy in less 'n no time.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 85, November, 1864|Various
S'pose you tell me what happened, jest as it comes to you, lad.
Darry the Life Saver|Frank V. Webster
Jest then I heard that sound ag'in, an' I made out it come from the point of rocks that makes off inter ther harber.
Frank Merriwell's Cruise|Burt L. Standish

British Dictionary definitions for jest

jest

/ (dʒɛst) /

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 (1 of 2)

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).

Word Origin and History for jest (1 of 2)

jest

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.

jest

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of jest

Examples from the Web for jest

British Dictionary definitions for jest

jest

noun

verb

Word Origin for jest

Word Origin and History for jest (1 of 2)

jest

Word Origin and History for jest (1 of 2)

jest