Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Jest
Jest
(jĕst)
, Noun.
1.
A deed; an action; a gest.
[Obs.]
The
jests
or actions of princes. Sir T. Elyot.
2.
A mask; a pageant; an interlude.
[Obs.]
Nares.
He promised us, in honor of our guest,
To grace our banquet with some pompous
To grace our banquet with some pompous
jest
. Kyd.
3.
Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under
Jest
, Verb.
I.
I must be sad . . . smile at no man’s
jests
. Shakespeare
The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his
jests
, and to his imagination for his facts. Sheridan.
4.
The object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock.
Then let me be your
jest
; I deserve it. Shakespeare
In jest
, for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest.
Jest book
, a book containing a collection of jests, jokes, and amusing anecdotes; a Joe Miller.
Jest
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Jested
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Jesting
.] 1.
To take part in a merrymaking; – especially, to act in a mask or interlude.
[Obs.]
Shak.
2.
To make merriment by words or actions; to joke; to make light of anything.
Syn. – To joke; sport; rally.
– To
Jest
, Joke
. One jests in order to make others laugh; one jokes to please himself. A jest is usually at the expense of another, and is often ill-natured; a joke is a sportive sally designed to promote good humor without wounding the feelings of its object. “Jests are, therefore, seldom harmless; jokes frequently allowable. The most serious subject may be degraded by being turned into a jest.” Crabb.
Webster 1828 Edition
Jest
JEST
,Noun.
1.
A joke; something ludicrous uttered and meant only to excite laughter. Religion should never be the subject of jest.2.
The object of laughter or sport; a laughing stock. Then let me be your jest, I deserve it.
In jest, for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest.
--And given in earnest what I begged in jest.
3.
A mask.4.
A deed; an action.