JEST


Meaning of JEST in English

n.

Pronunciation: ' jest

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English geste idle tale, story in verse, from Anglo-French, deed, action, narrative, from Latin gesta deeds, from neuter plural of gestus, past participle of gerere to bear, wage

Date: circa 1548

1 : an utterance (as a jeer or quip) intended to be taken as mockery or humor

2 a : PRANK b : a ludicrous circumstance or incident

3 a : a frivolous mood or manner <spoken in jest > b : gaiety and merriment

4 : LAUGHINGSTOCK

synonyms see FUN

– jest verb

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.