'Jest' definitions:

Definition of 'jest'

(from WordNet)
noun
A humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter; "he told a very funny joke"; "he knows a million gags"; "thanks for the laugh"; "he laughed unpleasantly at his own jest"; "even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some ascertainable point" [syn: joke, gag, laugh, jest, jape]
noun
Activity characterized by good humor [syn: jest, joke, jocularity]
verb
Tell a joke; speak humorously; "He often jokes even when he appears serious" [syn: joke, jest]
verb
Act in a funny or teasing way [syn: joke, jest]

Definition of 'Jest'

From: GCIDE
  • Jest \Jest\ (j[e^]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]

Definition of 'Jest'

From: GCIDE
  • Jest \Jest\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Jested; p. pr. & vb. n. Jesting.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. To take part in a merrymaking; -- especially, to act in a mask or interlude. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To make merriment by words or actions; to joke; to make light of anything. [1913 Webster]
  • He jests at scars that never felt a wound. --Shak.
  • Syn: To joke; sport; rally.
  • Usage: 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. [1913 Webster]