jesting

UK/'dʒestiŋ/US

GREC2

Definitions

The act of joking or speaking playfully

说笑，打趣

adj.

Playful, not serious

开玩笑的，戏谑的

Root Breakdown

Root-derived

jestcarry, bear, perform, conduct

-ingcontinuous / action of

=jesting

From jest + -ing. jest goes back to Latin gesta 'deeds, exploits' (things carried out, from gerere) — the tales a medieval minstrel performed. Over time the meaning drifted from 'story' to 'amusing story' to 'joke,' so the original 'carry out / perform' sense is now hidden behind humor.

Root gest still carries 36 more words

Example Sentences

1.
All his jesting hid how nervous he really was.

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