jeu d'esprit

American  

[zhœ des-pree] / ʒœ dɛsˈpri /

noun

French.

plural

jeux d'esprit

1. a witticism.

2. a literary work showing keen wit or intelligence rather than profundity.

---

jeu d'esprit British  

/ ʒø dɛspri /

noun

1. a light-hearted display of wit or cleverness, esp in literature

---

Etymology

Origin of jeu d'esprit

Literally, “play of spirit”

Example Sentences

It is both solemn and jaunty, this little jeu d'esprit, as if to say that we're all in this together.

From The Guardian

Thus it is that unlike Polanski, directors like Marc Webb, who've cut their teeth on a jeu d'esprit like 500 Days of Summer but want to get on, find themselves entangled in franchise-land.

From The Guardian

"Quite a jeu d'esprit!" exclaimed Rebecca, laughing gaily.

From Project Gutenberg

But the thing is essentially a pot-boiler and a jeu d'esprit.

From Project Gutenberg

This jeu d'esprit, which was published by the London Committee, was circulated by thousands, and proved extremely useful in bringing the burning question home in an attractive form to the masses of the nation.

From Project Gutenberg