I. ˈfärs, ˈfȧs transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English farsen, from Middle French farcir, from Latin farcire to stuff; akin to Middle Irish barc attack, Greek phrassein, phrattein to enclose, fence in
1. obsolete
a. : to stuff (as poultry) with forcemeat or other stuffing
b. : to stuff (as oneself) with food : gorge
c. : to make full : cram , stuff
2.
a. obsolete : to fatten or enlarge by or as if by cramming
b. : to enlarge, amplify, or expand (as a literary work) by interpolation or addition often of witty material or quotations ; especially : farse
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English farse, from Middle French farce, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin farsa, from Latin, feminine of farsus, past participle of farcire
1. : forcemeat ; broadly : any savory stuffing (as for poultry or roasts)
2.
a. : a light dramatic composition of satirical or humorous cast in which great latitude is allowed as to probability of happenings and naturalness of characters
an amusing farce based on confused relationships
b. : the class or form of drama made up of such compositions
the place of farce in the modern theater
3.
a. : the element of broad humor that goes to make up theatrical farce : comic trait, feature, or characteristic
b. : a passage containing such comic element
the father's speech is sheer farce
4. : ridiculous or empty show
the authorities have indulged in a farce of stubborn resistance — Bosley Crowther
often : something so much less than it could or should be as to constitute a mockery
a procedure … that would have revived the farce of the veto — A.P.Ryan
observance and upholding of the law became a farce