jest
English
/dʒɛst/
noun
Definitions
- (archaic) An act performed for amusement; a joke.
- (archaic) Someone or something that is ridiculed; the target of a joke.
- (obsolete) A deed; an action; a gest.
- (obsolete) A mask; a pageant; an interlude.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English geste (tale, idle tale, guest) derived from Old French geste (acts, exploits) derived from Latin gesta (acts, deeds).
Origin
Latin
gesta
Gloss
acts, deeds
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- book English
- jestbook English
- jestee English
- jester English
- jestest English
- jesteth English
- jestful English
- jestfully English
- jestfulness English
- jestress English
- jesty English
- outjest English
- gesta Latin
- geste Middle English
- gestour Middle English
- gestyn Middle English
- yest Middle English
- yeste Middle English
- geste Old French