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# jest

noun (a jest, jests); verb (jest, jests, jested, jesting)

«jest» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (old or formal) A joke or something said to be funny. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/#m1)
2. (verb) To joke or speak not seriously. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/#m2)
3. «in jest» — as a joke, not meant seriously. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories and old tales: jesters (court clowns) jested for the king. In everyday talk: «I said it in jest» = I was joking. Phrases: in jest, half in jest, you jest!

### Examples

- He said it in jest, so don't be upset. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/#x1)
- The jester made a jest about the king's crown. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/#x2)
- «You jest!» said the queen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/#x3)
- Many a true word is spoken in jest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/#x4)
- They jested about the teacher's funny hat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/#x5)
- It was only a jest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/#x6)
- "Sure, you do but jest," said Tom. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/#x7)

### Note

Old-fashioned; everyday word: joke. Person: jester. Phrase: «Many a true word is spoken in jest» = jokes can hide truth.

## In Jewish tradition

In stories and old tales: jesters (court clowns) jested for the king. In everyday talk: «I said it in jest» = I was joking. Phrases: in jest, half in jest, you jest!

### Examples

- And Lot went out, and spoke unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said: 'Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy the city.' But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that jested. (Torah GEN.19.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/jest/#x1)

### Note

Old-fashioned; everyday word: joke. Person: jester. Phrase: «Many a true word is spoken in jest» = jokes can hide truth.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «jest» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jest/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«jest» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/jest.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «jest» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/jest/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«jest» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/jest.html) on Mova free.