jest
pronunciation
How to pronounce jest in British English:
UK [dʒest]
How to pronounce jest in American English:
US [dʒɛst]
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- Noun:
- a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
- activity characterized by good humor
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- Verb:
- tell a joke; speak humorously
- act in a funny or teasing way
Word Origin
- jest (n.)
- early 13c., geste, "narrative of exploits," from Old French geste "action, exploit," from Latin gesta "deeds," neuter plural of gestus, past participle of gerere "to carry, behave, act, perform" (see gest). Sense descended through "idle tale" (late 15c.) to "mocking speech, raillery" (1540s) to "joke" (1550s).
- jest (v.)
- 1520s, "to speak in a trifling manner;" 1550s, "to joke," from Middle English gesten "recite a tale" (late 14c.), from geste (see jest (n.)). Related: Jested; jesting.
Example
- 1. This modest proposal is made mostly in jest .
- 2. Clearly my lexicon is meant partly in jest but not entirely .
- 3. But history likes a jest .
- 4. The jest may not prove idle .
- 5. The tsunami transformed cars into a kind of surreal jest .