Also 6 gest(e, geast, ieste, 6–7 ieast. [f. prec.: = GEST v.1, of which this is a variant spelling.]
† 1. intr. To tell a tale, to recite a romance.
1340–1440. [see GEST v.1 1].
2. intr. To utter gibes or taunts; to give utterance to ridicule; to scoff, jeer, mock.
1526. Tindale, 3 John 10. Iestynge on vs with malicious wordes.
1530. Palsgr., 562/1. I geste, I rayle upon one, je raffarde. I love nat his condyscions, for he doth but jeste upon other men.
1535. Coverdale, Job xxvii. 23. Than clappe men their hondes at him, yee and ieast of him.
1563. Winȝet, Four Scoir Thre Quest., Wks. 1888, I. 73. Ȝe schaw ȝour arrogance only … to be lachin and gestit at.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 313. He … made an oath he would never jest at spirits again.
b. trans. To jeer at; to ridicule; to banter.
1721. Ramsay, Content, 248. Be not aghast; Come briskly on, you’ll jest them when they’re past; Mere empty spectres.
1775. Adair, Amer. Ind., 427. I jested them in commending the swiftness of their horses.
1800. W. Taylor, in Monthly Mag., VIII. 728. Mock’d by the madman, jested by the fool.
1830. G. P. R. James, Darnley, xx. He jested his companion upon his gravity.
3. intr. To speak or act in a trifling manner or not seriously; to trifle.
1530. Palsgr., 562/1. I gest, I bourde or tryfyll with one, je bourde. I sayd it nat in good earnest, I dyd but … jeste with you.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 63 b. God forbydde I should ieste in these weyghtie matters.
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. iii. 103. Verily I do not iest with you, there came newes from him last night.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. xiii. 270. The most sportfull fishes dare not jest with the edged-tools of this Dead-sea.
a. 1873. Lytton, Pausanias, I. i. (1876), 51. ‘Jest not, Pausanias; you will find me in earnest,’ answered Uliades, doggedly.
4. intr. To say something amusing or facetious; to make witty or humorous remarks; to joke.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 137. Other can ieste at large, and tell a rounde tale pleasauntly.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., I. 34. Now was Severus the Emperour; an Emperour of his own name, as they jested upon him, Severe was his name, and severe his nature.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 215, ¶ 2. Because Mirth is agreeable, another thinks fit eternally to jest.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., III. iv. Well jested, Symon.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xvii. IV. 97. He drank: he jested: he was again the Dick Talbot who had diced and revelled with Grammont.
† b. intr. To disport or amuse oneself; to make merry; ? to act in a masque or play. Obs.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 95. As gentle, and as iocond, as to iest, Go I to fight.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 29. To the end that those of the House … seeing them jest (beating one the other with pillowes) might beleeve that thence began the first noise.
c. quasi-trans., usually with adverb or phrase expressing result.
a. 1562. G. Cavendish, Wolsey (1893), 214. The matter was gested and laughed owte merylye.
1634. Massinger, Very Woman, V. iv. Do not jest thyself Into the danger of a father’s anger.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 358, ¶ 1. Thus they have jested themselves stark naked, and ran into the Streets, and frighted Women.
1802. Oracle, in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1803), VI. 291. I have jested away all my friends.
1811. Lamb, Ess., Edax on Appetite. That freak … jested me out of a good three hundred pounds a year.
Jest, variant of GIST sb.3, JET sb.4
