jest
noun
a joke or witty remark; witticism.
were jesting
-
past progressiveof jest.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Eugenia stared—that is, she smiled; she thought of her poor little chalet and she wondered whether her hostess were jesting.
From The Europeans by Henry James
The watchers over Hadrian's dust have slipped from his sepulchre.—It were jesting to stay longer.
From Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 by Walter Pater
When you told us that you were not yet full grown I thought you were jesting, but I see now that truly these men are bigger even than you are.
From Beric the Briton : a Story of the Roman Invasion by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
Yes, of course; I never thought anything else—eventually; and I knew all along you were jesting.
From The Tenants of Malory Volume 1 of 3 by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
When he heard what had happened he declared they were jesting.
From L'Assommoir by Émile Zola
