GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Jest , n. [OE. jeste, geste, deed, action, story, tale, OF. geste, LL. gesta, orig., exploits, neut. pl. from L. gestus, p. p. of gerere to bear, carry, accomplish, perform; perh. orig., to make to come, bring, and perh. akin to E. come. Cf. Gest a deed, Register, n.]
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   A deed; an action; a gest. [Obs.]
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   The jests or actions of princes.
   Sir T. Elyot.
   
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   A mask; a pageant; an interlude. [Obs.]
   Nares.
   
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   He promised us, in honor of our guest,
   To grace our banquet with some pompous jest.
   Kyd.
   
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   Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under Jest, v. i.
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   I must be sad . . . smile at no man's jests.
   Shak.
   
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   The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts.
   Sheridan.
   
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   The object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock.
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   Then let me be your jest; I deserve it.
   Shak.
   
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   In jest, for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest.
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   And given in earnest what I begged in jest.
   Shak.
   -- Jest book, a book containing a collection of jests, jokes, and amusing anecdotes; a Joe Miller.
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2.       
   Jest, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Jested; p. pr. & vb. n. Jesting.]
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   To take part in a merrymaking; -- especially, to act in a mask or interlude. [Obs.]
   Shak.
   
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   To make merriment by words or actions; to joke; to make light of anything.
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   He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
   Shak.
   Syn. -- To joke; sport; rally.  -- To Jest, Joke. One jests in order to make others laugh; one jokes to please himself. A jest is usually at the expense of another, and is often ill-natured; a joke is a sportive sally designed to promote good humor without wounding the feelings of its object. “Jests are, therefore, seldom harmless; jokes frequently allowable. The most serious subject may be degraded by being turned into a jest.”
   Crabb.
   
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