[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

jest \jest\ je^st, n. oe. jeste, geste, deed, action,
   story, tale, of. geste, ll. gesta, orig., exploits, neut. pl.
   from l. gestus, p. p. of gerere to bear, carry, accomplish,
   perform; perh. orig., to make to come, bring, and perh. akin
   to e. come. cf. gest a deed, register, n.
   1913 webster
   1. a deed; an action; a gest. obs.
      1913 webster

            the jests or actions of princes.      --sir t.
                                                  elyot.
      1913 webster

   2. a mask; a pageant; an interlude. obs. --nares.
      1913 webster

            he promised us, in honor of our guest,
            to grace our banquet with some pompous jest. --kyd.
      1913 webster

   3. something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a
      witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. see
      synonyms under jest, v. i.
      1913 webster

            i must be sad . . . smile at no man's jests. --shak.
      1913 webster

            the right honorable gentleman is indebted to his
            memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his
            facts.                                --sheridan.
      1913 webster

   4. the object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock.
      1913 webster

            then let me be your jest; i deserve it. --shak.
      1913 webster

   in jest, for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and
      reality; not in earnest.
      1913 webster

            and given in earnest what i begged in jest. --shak.

   jest book, a book containing a collection of jests, jokes,
      and amusing anecdotes; a joe miller.
      1913 webster
see also:
gest register jest in jest jest book 

Jest >> J Words
Jest, definition of term: Jest
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