I. ˈjest noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English geste, from Old French geste, jeste, from Latin gesta deeds, from neuter plural of gestus, past participle of gerere to bear, wage, cherish, accomplish — more at cast
1.
a. obsolete : act , deed , exploit
b. : an act intended to provoke laughter : prank
began as a jest and ended as a tragedy
signs marking the city limits … pranksters carry off and plant in remote spots as a jest — American Guide Series: California
c. : a ludicrous circumstance or incident
a proper jest , and never heard before, that Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth for costs and charges — Shakespeare
2.
a. : a jeering remark : gibe , taunt
many a foul ribald jest at the expense of the prisoner — J.L.Motley
b. : a witty remark : clever quip : mot
the kind of wry jest that had sent the ancient gods into peals of ironic laughter — T.B.Costain
3.
a. : a frivolous mood or manner — usually used with in
done in jest and not supposed to be taken seriously
many a true word is spoken in jest
b. : gaiety , merriment
I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest , of excellent fancy — Shakespeare
4. : the butt of a joke : laughingstock
to be the standing jest of all one's acquaintance — R.B.Sheridan
Synonyms: see fun , joke
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English gesten to tell a tale, recite a romance, from geste, n.
intransitive verb
1. : to utter taunts : jeer and mock : gibe
mock not nor jest at anything or importance — George Washington
jests at scars that never felt a wound — Shakespeare
2. : to speak or act without seriousness or in a frivolous manner
you surely jest , interrupted I; I am a foreigner, and you would abuse my ignorance — Oliver Goldsmith
3. : to make a witty remark : say something amusing : quip , joke
jested with her in a low voice — Anne D. Sedgwick
4. obsolete : to make merry
as gentle and as jocund as to jest go I to fight — Shakespeare
transitive verb
: to jeer and mock at : make fun of : ridicule , banter
jested his friend over his fondness for horses