noun
1.
a joke or witty remark; witticism.
2.
a bantering remark; a piece of good-natured ridicule; taunt.
3.
sport or fun: to speak half in jest, half in earnest.
4.
the object of laughter, sport, or mockery; laughing-stock.
5.
Obsolete. an exploit. Compare gest.
verb (used without object)
6.
to speak in a playful, humorous, or facetious way; joke.
7.
to speak or act in mere sport, rather than in earnest; trifle (often followed by with ): Please don't jest with me.
8.
to utter derisive speeches; gibe or scoff.
00:10
Jest
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
| to flee; abscond: |
verb (used with object)
9.
to deride or joke at; banter.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To jest
Collins
World English Dictionary
jest (dʒɛst) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | something done or said for amusement; joke |
| 2. | a frivolous mood or attitude; playfulness; fun: to act in jest |
| 3. | a jeer or taunt |
| 4. | an object of derision; laughing stock; butt |
| —vb | |
| 5. | to act or speak in an amusing, teasing, or frivolous way; joke |
| 6. | to make fun of (a person or thing); scoff or mock |
| [C13: variant of | |
| 'jestful | |
| —adj | |
| 'jesting | |
| —adj, —n | |
| 'jestingly | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
jest
c.1300, "narrative of exploits" (originally in verse), from O.Fr. geste "action, exploit," from L. gesta "deeds," neut. pl. of gestus, pp. of gerere "to carry, behave, act, perform." Sense descended through "idle tale" (c.1470) to "mocking speech, raillery" (c.1548) to "joke" (1551). The verb in the
sense of "to speak in a trifling manner" is from 1530. Jester developed from M.E. gestour "a minstrel, professional reciter of romances" (c.1380), from gesten "recite a tale," which was a jester's original function; sense of "buffoon in a prince's court" is from 1510.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
It is a humorous and fallacious statement made purely for jest.
She said that the statement was made in jest and that she and the two coworkers had a history of joking around together.
How much truth could be said in jest.
Many a word was said in jest but behold now we see many of these coming to pass.
Nearby Words
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