Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Jest
Jest
(jĕst)
, Noun.
1.
A deed; an action; a gest.
[Obs.]
The
jests
or actions of princes. Sir T. Elyot.
2.
A mask; a pageant; an interlude.
[Obs.]
Nares.
He promised us, in honor of our guest,
To grace our banquet with some pompous
To grace our banquet with some pompous
jest
. Kyd.
3.
Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under
Jest
, Verb.
I.
I must be sad . . . smile at no man’s
jests
. Shakespeare
The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his
jests
, and to his imagination for his facts. Sheridan.
4.
The object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock.
Then let me be your
jest
; I deserve it. Shakespeare
In jest
, for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest.
Jest book
, a book containing a collection of jests, jokes, and amusing anecdotes; a Joe Miller.
Jest
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Jested
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Jesting
.] 1.
To take part in a merrymaking; – especially, to act in a mask or interlude.
[Obs.]
Shak.
2.
To make merriment by words or actions; to joke; to make light of anything.
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Jest
JEST
,Noun.
1.
A joke; something ludicrous uttered and meant only to excite laughter. Religion should never be the subject of jest.2.
The object of laughter or sport; a laughing stock. Then let me be your jest, I deserve it.
In jest, for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest.
--And given in earnest what I begged in jest.
3.
A mask.4.
A deed; an action.Definition 2024
jest
jest
See also: jesť
English
Pronunciation
- enPR: jĕst, IPA(key): /dʒɛst/
- Rhymes: -ɛst
Noun
jest (plural jests)
- (archaic) An act performed for amusement; a joke.
- Sheridan
- The Right Honourable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts.
- Sheridan
- (archaic) Someone or something that is ridiculed; the target of a joke.
- Your majesty, stop him before he makes you the jest of the court.
- Shakespeare
- Then let me be your jest; I deserve it.
- (obsolete) A deed; an action; a gest.
- Sir T. Elyot
- the jests or actions of princes
- Sir T. Elyot
- (obsolete) A mask; a pageant; an interlude.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Nares to this entry?)
- Kyd
- He promised us, in honour of our guest, / To grace our banquet with some pompous jest.
Synonyms
Translations
joke
target of a joke
|
|
Verb
jest (third-person singular simple present jests, present participle jesting, simple past and past participle jested)
Synonyms
Translations
to tell a joke
Derived terms
See also
Anagrams
Etymology 2
Eye dialect spelling of just. This spelling is used for both AAVE and Southern US English.
Adverb
jest (not comparable)
- (African American Vernacular, Southern US) Alternative spelling of just
Polish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /jɛst/
Verb
jest
- third-person singular present indicative of być; is
- Ona jest ładna
- She's pretty
- Agnieszka jest studentką
- Agnieszka is a student.
- Ona jest ładna
- (mathematics) is, equals (see also wynosi)
- dwa plus dwa jest cztery
- Two plus two is four
- dwa plus dwa jest cztery