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Webster 1913 Edition


Travesty

Trav′es-ty

,
Adj.
[F.
travesti
, p. p. of
travestir
to disguise, to travesty, It.
travestire
, fr. L.
trans
across, over +
vestire
to dress, clothe. See
Vest
.]
Disguised by dress so as to be ridiculous; travestied; – applied to a book or shorter composition.
[R.]

Trav′es-ty

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Travesties
.
A burlesque translation or imitation of a work.
The second edition is not a recast, but absolutely a
travesty
of the first.
De Quincey.

Trav′es-ty

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Travestied
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Travesting
.]
To translate, imitate, or represent, so as to render ridiculous or ludicrous.
I see poor Lucan
travestied
, not appareled in his Roman toga, but under the cruel shears of an English tailor.
Bentley.

Webster 1828 Edition


Travesty

TRAV'ESTY

,
Adj.
[infra.] Having an unusual dress; disguised by dress so as to be ridiculous. It is applied to a book or composition translated in a manner to make it burlesque.

TRAV'ESTY

,
Noun.
A parody; a burlesque translation of a work. Travesty may be intended to ridicule absurdity, or to convert a grave performance into a humorous one.

TRAV'ESTY

,
Verb.
T.
To translate into such language as to render ridiculous or ludicrous.
G. Battista Lalli travestied Virgil, or turned him into Italian burlesque verse.

Definition 2024


travesty

travesty

English

Noun

travesty (plural travesties)

  1. An absurd or grotesque misrepresentation.
    • De Quincey
      The second edition is not a recast, but absolutely a travesty of the first.
  2. A parody or stylistic imitation.
  3. (pejorative) A grossly inferior imitation.
    A battlefield trial is a travesty of justice.

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

travesty (third-person singular simple present travesties, present participle travestying, simple past and past participle travestied)

  1. (transitive) To make a travesty of; to parody.