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 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}, v. i.
I must be sad . . . smile at no man's jests. --Shak.
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. --Shak.
{In jest}, for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and
reality; not in earnest.
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.
2. To make merriment by words or actions; to joke; to make
light of anything.
He jests at scars that never felt a wound. --Shak.
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.