I. jest 1 /dʒest/ BrE AmE noun [countable] formal
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: geste 'action' , from Latin gesta (plural), from gerere 'to behave, perform' ]
something you say that is intended to be funny, not serious SYN joke :
I wasn’t sure whether to treat her words as a jest.
in jest
His serious face told me that he was not speaking in jest.
II. jest 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive] formal or old use
to say things that you do not really mean in order to amuse people:
‘Do I look as if I am jesting?’ she asked, her face pale and tense.
—jestingly adverb