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Gest vs Jest - What's the difference?

gest | jest |

In obsolete terms the difference between gest and jest

is that gest is a roll reciting the several stages arranged for a royal progress while jest is a mask; a pageant; an interlude.

In archaic terms the difference between gest and jest

is that gest is bearing; deportment while jest is someone or something that is ridiculed; the target of a joke.

As a verb jest is

to tell a joke; to talk in a playful manner; to make fun of something or someone.

gest

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) geste.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) A gesture or action.
  • * , II.ix:
    • They did obeysaunce, as beseemed right, / And then againe returned to their restes: / The Porter eke to her did lout with humble gestes .
  • * , II.36:
    • more Kings and Princes have written his gestes' and actions, than any other historians, of what quality soever, have registred the ' gests , or collected the actions of any other King or Prince that ever was.
  • (archaic) A story or adventure; a verse or prose romance.
    • (Chaucer)
    (Spenser)
  • (archaic) An action represented in sports, plays, or on the stage; show; ceremony.
    • (Mede)
  • (archaic) bearing; deportment
  • * Spenser
    • through his heroic grace and honorable gest

    Etymology 2

    Compare gist a resting place.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A stage in travelling; a stop for rest or lodging in a journey; a rest.
    • (Kersey)
  • (obsolete) A roll reciting the several stages arranged for a royal progress.
    • (Hanmer)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    jest

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archaic) An act performed for amusement; a joke.
  • * Sheridan
    • The Right Honourable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests , and to his imagination for his facts.
  • (archaic) Someone or something that is ridiculed; the target of a joke.
    • Your majesty, stop him before he makes you the jest of the court.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Then let me be your jest ; I deserve it.
  • (obsolete) A deed; an action; a gest.
  • * Sir T. Elyot
    • the jests or actions of princes
  • (obsolete) A mask; a pageant; an interlude.
    • (Nares)
  • * Kyd
    • He promised us, in honour of our guest, / To grace our banquet with some pompous jest .

    Synonyms

    * (joke) prank, gag, laughingstock, banter, crack, wisecrack, witticism * See also

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To tell a joke; to talk in a playful manner; to make fun of something or someone.
    • Surely you jest !

    Synonyms

    * (to joke) banter, kid, mock, tease

    Derived terms

    * (l) * (l)

    See also

    * (wikipedia "jest")

    Anagrams

    * ----