jest

1 of 2

noun

ˈjest

: a joking or mocking remark

a clever jest

: prank

: a ludicrous circumstance or incident

a proper jest, and never heard before, that Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth for costs and charges

William Shakespeare

: a frivolous mood or manner

—usually used with in

spoken in jest

: gaiety and merriment

I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of excellent fancy

William Shakespeare

: laughingstock

jest

2 of 2

verb

jested; jesting

intransitive verb

formal, dated

: to make jokes or jests : to say things intended to be humorous

"What's it like to design a building and have an apartment in it and have your name on it?" the architect asks, jesting, with his typically irrepressible energy. "It's like a hat trick."

Philip Nobel

You voted for him? Surely you jest. [=you must be joking]

Example Sentences

Noun It was a harmless jest. you should know that our teasing was done entirely in jest

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Usually, it is mentioned in jest, or perhaps in a fit of post-game exasperation.

Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 29 Oct. 2017 Simmons said principals were given discretion over the dress code, and any threats involving a bat were made in jest.

Jacob Carpenter, Houston Chronicle, 23 Oct. 2017 Though the remark was in jest, it reflects the unsettling reality that a number of Ryan's closest allies in the Republican caucus are abandoning ship.

vanityfair.com, 20 Oct. 2017 Though the remark was in jest, it reflects the unsettling reality that a number of Ryan's closest allies in the Republican caucus are abandoning ship.

Abigail Tracy, The Hive, 20 Oct. 2017 Alas, poor Virgin America, an airline of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.

Ryan Craggs, CNT, 10 Oct. 2017 Frost said in jest to much laughter during his postgame press conference.

Chris Hays, OrlandoSentinel.com, 1 Sep. 2017 There was a good bit of growling involved, but all was in jest, said Crosby’s owner, Mansi Shah, 22.

Mary Hui, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2017 Sturgeon said, somewhat in jest but making his point.

Maureen Robertson, Ramona Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2017 See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gest, geste, jeste "chivalric romance, tale, heroic deed, exploit, action, amusement," borrowed from Anglo-French geste "heroic deed, romance, tale," borrowed from Latin gesta "deeds, exploits," plural of gestum "something carried out," noun derivative from neuter of gestus, past participle of gerere "to carry, bear, conduct one's business, act, perform, do," from a verb stem ges- of uncertain origin

Note: The current senses of jest date from the 16th century. The Latin verb stem ges- is without evident Indo-European congeners. An old suggestion that it derives from *h₂ǵ-es-, an extended form containing the zero grade of *h₂eǵ- "drive" (see agent) has been revived (as, for example, by Michiel de Vaan in Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, Brill, 2008; the original suggestion was by Hermann Osthoff in Beiträge zur Kunde der indogermanischen Sprachen, Band 19 [1893], pp. 320-22.) Parallel formations adduced by Osthoff are, however, questionable, as *u̯es- (see wear entry 1) from *eu̯- "put on (footwear)," not possible if the root is actually *h₂eu̯(H)- (see exuviae). Latin ger- is unlikely to have any relation to Old Norse kǫr "heap, pile," kǫstr "pile," kasta "to throw, fling" (see cast entry 1).

Verb

Middle English gesten "to recite romances," derivative of geste "chivalric romance, tale" — more at jest entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1553, in the meaning defined above

单词	jesters
释义	jest 1 of 2 noun ˈjest 1 : a joking or mocking remark a clever jest 2 a : prank b : a ludicrous circumstance or incident a proper jest, and never heard before, that Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth for costs and charges William Shakespeare 3 a : a frivolous mood or manner —usually used with in spoken in jest b : gaiety and merriment I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of excellent fancy William Shakespeare 4 : laughingstock jest 2 of 2 verb jested; jesting intransitive verb formal, dated : to make jokes or jests : to say things intended to be humorous "What's it like to design a building and have an apartment in it and have your name on it?" the architect asks, jesting, with his typically irrepressible energy. "It's like a hat trick." Philip Nobel You voted for him? Surely you jest. [=you must be joking] Synonyms Noun fun game play sport Verb banter chaff fool fun gag jape jive joke jolly josh kid quip wisecrack yuk [slang] yuck See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun It was a harmless jest. you should know that our teasing was done entirely in jest Recent Examples on the Web Noun Usually, it is mentioned in jest, or perhaps in a fit of post-game exasperation. Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 29 Oct. 2017 Simmons said principals were given discretion over the dress code, and any threats involving a bat were made in jest. Jacob Carpenter, Houston Chronicle, 23 Oct. 2017 Though the remark was in jest, it reflects the unsettling reality that a number of Ryan's closest allies in the Republican caucus are abandoning ship. vanityfair.com, 20 Oct. 2017 Though the remark was in jest, it reflects the unsettling reality that a number of Ryan's closest allies in the Republican caucus are abandoning ship. Abigail Tracy, The Hive, 20 Oct. 2017 Alas, poor Virgin America, an airline of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. Ryan Craggs, CNT, 10 Oct. 2017 Frost said in jest to much laughter during his postgame press conference. Chris Hays, OrlandoSentinel.com, 1 Sep. 2017 There was a good bit of growling involved, but all was in jest, said Crosby’s owner, Mansi Shah, 22. Mary Hui, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2017 Sturgeon said, somewhat in jest but making his point. Maureen Robertson, Ramona Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2017 See More Word History Etymology Noun Middle English gest, geste, jeste "chivalric romance, tale, heroic deed, exploit, action, amusement," borrowed from Anglo-French geste "heroic deed, romance, tale," borrowed from Latin gesta "deeds, exploits," plural of gestum "something carried out," noun derivative from neuter of gestus, past participle of gerere "to carry, bear, conduct one's business, act, perform, do," from a verb stem ges- of uncertain origin Note: The current senses of jest date from the 16th century. The Latin verb stem ges- is without evident Indo-European congeners. An old suggestion that it derives from h₂ǵ-es-, an extended form containing the zero grade of h₂eǵ- "drive" (see agent) has been revived (as, for example, by Michiel de Vaan in Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, Brill, 2008; the original suggestion was by Hermann Osthoff in Beiträge zur Kunde der indogermanischen Sprachen, Band 19 [1893], pp. 320-22.) Parallel formations adduced by Osthoff are, however, questionable, as u̯es- (see wear entry 1) from eu̯- "put on (footwear)," not possible if the root is actually h₂eu̯(H)- (see exuviae). Latin ger-* is unlikely to have any relation to Old Norse kǫr "heap, pile," kǫstr "pile," kasta "to throw, fling" (see cast entry 1). Verb Middle English gesten "to recite romances," derivative of geste "chivalric romance, tale" — more at jest entry 1 First Known Use Noun circa 1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 1553, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing jest in jest Surely you jest in jest Surely you jest Kids Definition jest 1 of 2 noun ˈjest 1 : a comic act or remark : joke 2 : a playful mood or manner He spoke of his adventure in jest. jest 2 of 2 verb jested; jesting : to make comic remarks : joke jesters noun plural of jester 1 as in comedians a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor a gentle jester, the cartoonist more often tries to evoke a broad smile than a hearty guffaw Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance comedians humorists jokesters entertainers wits clowns drolls funnymen farceurs jokers wags gaggers cards comics buffoons gagmen gagsters harlequins comediennes pranksters kidders caricaturists parodists zanies fools satirists cutups practical jokers banterers teasers knockabouts quipsters wisecrackers quippers lampooners 2 as in clowns a person formerly kept in a royal or noble household to amuse with jests and pranks the king called for some much-needed entertainment from his jester Synonyms & Similar Words clowns fools harlequins comedians jokers buffoons comics jokesters madcaps drolls comediennes zanies mimes motleys wags mummers vices cutups merry-andrews
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jest

noun

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing jest

Kids Definition

noun

verb

noun