Levity vs Jest - What's the difference?

Levity is a related term of jest.

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between levity and jest

is that levity is (obsolete) lack of steadiness while jest is (obsolete) a mask; a pageant; an interlude.

As nouns the difference between levity and jest

is that levity is lightness of manner or speech, frivolity while jest is (archaic) an act performed for amusement; a joke.

As a verb jest is

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

levity

English

Noun

(en-noun)

Lightness of manner or speech, frivolity.

(obsolete) Lack of steadiness.

The state or quality of being light, buoyancy.

* F. Scott Fitzgerald

* Most of the confidences were unsought - frequently I had feigned sleep, preoccupation or a hostile levity...

* Robert Montgomery Bird:

* 1869 Mary Somerville, On Molecular and Microscopic Science 1.1.12:

Hydrogen ... rises in the air on account of its levity .

(countable) A lighthearted or frivolous act.

* '>citation

Antonyms

* (l)

References

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)

Anagrams

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