jest-earnest

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• Earnest — Ear nest ([ e]r n[e^]st), n. [AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. orny nai to excite, L. oriri to rise.] Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• Jest book — 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• jest — jestful, adj. jestingly, adv. /jest/, n. 1. a joke or witty remark; witticism. 2. a bantering remark; a piece of good natured ridicule; taunt. 3. sport or fun: to speak half in jest, half in earnest. 4. the object of laughter, sport, or mockery;… …   Universalium

• jest — /dʒɛst / (say jest) noun 1. a witticism, joke, or pleasantry. 2. a piece of raillery or banter. 3. sport or fun: to speak half in jest, half in earnest. 4. the object of laughter, sport, or mockery; a laughing stock. 5. Obsolete an exploit. See… …  

• earnest — [[t]ɜ͟ː(r)nɪst[/t]] 1) PHRASE: PHR after v If something is done or happens in earnest, it happens to a much greater extent and more seriously than before. Campaigning will begin in earnest tomorrow... The two countries can finally start… …   English dictionary

• earnest — I. /ˈɜnəst / (say ernuhst) adjective 1. serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous: an earnest worker. 2. showing depth and sincerity of feeling: earnest words. 3. having serious importance, or demanding serious attention: an… …  

• jest — [[t]dʒɛst[/t]] n. 1) a joke or witty remark; witticism; quip 2) a taunt, often of a teasing nature 3) sport or fun: to speak half in jest, half in earnest[/ex] 4) the object of laughter; laughingstock 5) to speak in a humorous or playfully… …   From formal English to slang

• In earnest — Earnest Ear nest ([ e]r n[e^]st), n. [AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. orny nai to excite, L. oriri to rise.] Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• In jest — 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English