jest 
Link towns to towns with avenues of oak, 
Enclose whole downs in walls 'tis all ajoke ! 
Pope, Imit. of Horace, II. ii. 261. 
jest 1 (jest), v. [< ME. gesten, tell romantic tales, 
< geste, a tale, etc. : see gestf, ?.] I. intrans. 
If. To tell stories or romances. See gesfi, v. 
I can not geste, rum, raf, ruf, by letter [i. e. in alliterative 
verse]. 
He, God wot, rym hold I but litel better. 
Chaucer, Prol. to Parson's Tale, 1. 43. 
2. To trifle (with); amuse or entertain by words 
or actions ; treat as trifling. 
By my life, captain, 
These hurts are not to be jested with. 
Beau, and Fl., Knight of Malta, ii. 1. 
3. To say or do something intended to amuse 
or cause laughter. 
Earl Limours 
Drank till he jested with all ease, and told 
Free tales, and took the word and play'd upon it. 
Tennyson, Geraint. 
4f. To take part in a mask or sport ; engage 
in mock combat; just. 
As gentle and as jocund, as to jest, 
Goltonght Shale., Eich. II., i. 3, 95. 
II. trans. 1. Toutterin jest or sport. [Bare.] 
If jest is in you, let the jest be jested. Rusldn. 
2. To apply a jest to; joke with; banter; rally. 
He jested his companion upon his gravity. 
0. P. R. James. 
jest 2 (jest), adv. A common dialectal form of 
jest-book (jest'buk), . A book containing a 
collection of jests, jokes, or funny stories or 
sayings. 
jestee (jes-te'), K. [< Jest 1 + -cc 1 .] The per- 
son on whom a jest is passed. [Rare.] 
The Mortgager and Mortgagee differ, the one from the 
other, not more in length of purse than the Jester and 
Jentee do in that of memory. 
Sterne, Tristram Shandy, i. 12. 
jester (jes'ter), H. [< ME. gestour, gestiour,<. ges- 
ten, tell jests : see jest 1 , v.'] If. A story-teller; 
a reciter of tales, adventures, and romances. 
Oestiours, that tellen tales 
Bothe of wepinge and of game. 
Chaucer, House of Fame, 1. 1198. 
The conteurs and the jestours . . . were literally, in 
English, tale-tellers, who recited either their own com- 
positions or those of others, consisting of popular tales 
and romances. Strutt, Sports and Pastimes, p. 261. 
2. One who is addicted to jesting ; one who is 
given to witticisms, jokes, and pranks. 
When he [Southey] writes nonsense we generally read 
It with pleasure, except indeed when he tries to be droll. 
A more insuUerable jester never existed. 
Macaulay, Southey's Colloquies. 
3. A court-fool or professed sayer of witty 
things and maker of amusement, maintained 
by a prince or noble in the middle ages and 
later. The dress of the jester was usually showy, or 
even gaudy, and toward the end of the time when jesters 
were employed it was always typically party-colored or 
motley ; but, as the jesters in some early courts were men 
of considerable intellectual ability, and in some cases of 
good family, their dress was not always conspicuously dis- 
tinguished from that of those with whom they mingled. 
The bauble, sometimes very small and of rich materials, 
was the only certain badge of the jester's employment. 
The fools of Shakspere's plays indicate a certain lowering 
of the rank of the jester in the sixteenth and seventeenth 
centuries. So far as is known, the last one employed in 
England was Archie Armstrong (died 1672), in the court of 
James I., and afterward of Charles I. See cockscomb, bau- 
We2, motley. 
Feste, the jester, my lord ; a fool that the lady Olivia's 
father took much delight in. Shak., T. N., ii. 4, 11. 
Jesters' helmet, a kind of helmet bearing unusual orna- 
ments, such as horns, or having the vizor shaped in rude 
imitation of a face. 
jesting (jes'ting), p. a. [Ppr. of jest 1 , *\] 1. 
Given to jesting; playful: as, a jesting humor. 
2. Fit for joking ; proper to be joked about. 
He will find that these are no jesting matters. 
Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xv. 
jesting-beam (jes'ting-bem), H. In building, a 
beam introduced for appearance, and not for 
use. 
jestingly (jes'ting-li), adv. In a jesting or play- 
ful manner ; not in earnest. 
jesting-stock (jes'ting- stok), n. A laughing- 
stock; a butt for ridicule. [Rare.] 
I love thee not so ill to keep thee here, 
A jest-ing -stock. 
Beau, and Fl., Scornful Lady, v. 2. 
jest-monger (jest'rmmg"ger), n. A retailer of 
jests ; a joker. 
Some witlings and jest-mongera still remain 
For fools to laugh at. J. Baillie. 
jestword (jest'werd), . An object of jests or 
ridicule ; a laughing-stock ; a byword ; a butt. 
The jeetword of a mocking band. Whittier. 
Jesuate (jez'ii-at), n. [Also Jesuat, < It. Gesu- 
ato, < (jtesu, Jesus: see Jetus. Cf. Jesuit.] A 
3228 
member of a monastic order founded by the 
Italian Colombiui, and confirmed by Urban V. 
about 1367. Until 1606 it was composed entirely of lay- 
men, who cared for the poor and sick. From the fact that 
they distilled alcoholic liquors at some of their houses, 
they were called Aqua-vita fathers. The order was sup- 
pressed in 1668. 
Jesuit (jez'u-it), . [< F. Jesuite, now Jesuite = 
Sp. Jesuifa = Pg. Jesuita = It. Gesuita = D. Je- 
zu'it, Jezuiet = G. Dan. Sw. Jesuit, < NL. Jesuita, 
so called (first, it is said, by Calvin, about 1550) 
from the name given to the order by its founder 
(NL. Societas Jesu, 'the Company (or Society) 
of Jesus'), < L. Jesus + -itu, E. usually -ite-2.] 
1. A member of the "Society of Jesus" (or 
"Company of Jesus"), founded by Ignatius 
Loyola in 1534 and confirmed by the Pope in 
1540. Its membership includes two general classes, lay- 
men, or temporal coadjutors, and priests; and six grades, 
namely, novices, formed temporal coadjutors, approved 
scholastics, formed spiritual coadjutors, the professed of 
three vows, and the professed of four vows. The appli- 
cant for admission to the order must be at least fourteen 
years old, and the three vows cannot be taken before the 
age of thirty-three. After a two years' novitiate the lay 
brothers become temporal coadjutors, and the candidates 
for the priesthood are advanced to the grade of scholas- 
tics. A rigorous course of study follows for fourteen or 
fifteen years, divided into three nearly equal periodsof aca- 
demic or collegiate study, teaching and study combined, 
and a course in theology. At the end of this time the 
scholastic enters on another short novitiate, after which 
he may become either a spiritual coadjutor or one of the 
professed. The three vows are voluntary poverty, per- 
fect chastity, and perfect obedience ; and the fourth vow 
is absolute submission to the Pope. The professed of the 
four vows are the most influential class ; they form the 
general congregation, and fill the highest offices and the 
leading missions. The general is elected for life by the 
general congregation. He has great power, limited only 
by the constitutions, and is aided by a council of assistants. 
He must reside at Rome, and is subject only to the Pope. 
There is an elaborate organization, with a division into 
five " assistancies," subdivided into provinces, each of 
which is administered by a provincial, and each provincial 
has " superiors," rectors, etc., as subordinates. Two fea- 
tures characterize the system thus organized absolute 
obedience and a perfect system of scrutiny. It is the 
combination of these two principles which has made the 
order of Jesuits such a power in the church. So formida- 
ble has their political influence been supposed to be that 
they have often been expelled even from Roman Catholic 
communities. They were expelled from France in 1594, 
restored in 1903, again expelled in 1764, and for the last 
time in 1880. They were expelled from Spain in 1767, and 
at different times from various other countries. In 1773 
the order was suppressed by Pope Clement XIV., but it 
was revived in 1814. It is believed now to number about 
ten thousand members. 
One whom the mob, when next we find or make 
A popish plot, shall for a Jesuit take. 
Pope, Satires of Donne, iv. 35. 
2. A crafty or insidious person; an intriguer: 
so called in allusion to the crafty and intriguing 
methods commonly ascribed to the Jesuits. 
3. [/. c.1 A dress worn by women in the latter 
part of the eighteenth century ; a kind of indoor 
morning-gown. Fairholt Jesuit lace. See lace. 
Jesuits' bark, Peruvian bark ; the bark of certain spe- 
cies of Cinchona. It is so called because it was first in- 
troduced into Europe by the Jesuits. Jesuits' Bark 
Act. See barkv. Jesuits' drops, a balsamic preparation 
formerly in repute as a pectoral and vulnerary : same as 
friars' balsam (which see, under friar). Jesuits' nut, a 
name sometimes given to the fruit of Trapa natans, the 
water-chestnut. Jesuits' powder, powdered cinchona 
bark. Jesuits' tea, the Ilex Paraguayensis, or its leaves. 
See mate*, and Paraguay tea, under tea. Jesuit Style, 
in arch. See baroque, 2. 
Jesuit (jez'u-it), v. t. [< Jesuit, .] To cause to 
conform to the principles of the Jesuits; make 
a Jesuit of. 
But to return to the Roman Catholics, how can we be 
secure from the practice of jesuited Papists in that Reli- 
gion? Dryden, Religio Laid, Pref. 
Jesuitess (jez'u-it-es), n. [< NL. Jesuitissa; as 
Jesuit + -ess.] One of an order of nuns estab- 
lished on the principles of the Jesuits. It was 
suppressed by Pope Urban VIII . about 1633. 
Jesuitic (jez-u-it'ik), a. [= F. jesuitique = Sp. 
jesuitico = Pg.jesuitico = It. gesuitico; < Jesuit, 
q. v.] 1. Of or pertaining to the Jesuits or 
their principles. 
The Jesuitic maxim, that " he who has the schools has 
the future," the German Catholics have adopted as their 
own. Bibliotheca Sacra, XLV. 194. 
jet 
As our English papists are commonly most jesuitish, so 
our English Jesuits are more furious than their fellows. 
Bp. Hall, Quo Vadis, li). 
Jesuitism (jez'u-it-izm), . [= F.jesuitisme = 
Sp. Pg. jesuitismo = It. gesuitismo; as Jesuit + 
-ism.] 1. The system, principles, and practices 
of the Jesuits. 2. Craft; subtlety; politic du- 
plicity: an opprobrious use. 
The word Jesuitism now in all countries expresses an 
idea for which there was in Nature no prototype before. 
Not till these late centuries had the human soul gener- 
ated that abomination or needed to name it. 
Carlyle, Latter Day Pamphlets, viil 
Jesuitocracy (jez"u-i-tok'ra-si), n. [< Jesuit -t- 
-o-cracy, government, as in aristocracy, q. v., 
etc.] Government by Jesuits ; also, the whole 
body of Jesuits in a country. 
The charming results of a century of Jeauitocracy, as 
they were represented on the French stage in the year 
1793. Sinysley, Yeast, v. 
Jesuitry (jez'u-it-ri), . [< Jesuit + -ry.] Jes- 
uitism, in either of its senses. 
The poor Girondins, many of them, under such fierce 
bellowing of Patriotism, say Death; justifying, motivant, 
that most miserable word of theirs by some brief casuist- 
ry and Jesuitry. Vergniaud himself says Death; justify- 
ing by Jesuitry. Carlyle, French Rev., III. ii. 7. 
Jesus (je'zus), n. [< ME. Jesus, lesus, Jesu (in 
AS. usually translated, Hailend, lit. 'healer,' i. e. 
Saviour) ; F. Jesns = Sp. Pg. Jesus = It. Gesu = 
D. Jezus = Or. Dan. Sw. Jesus, < L. (LL.) Jesus, 
prop, in 3 syllables, lesus (gen., dat., abl., and 
voc. Jesu, > voc. Jesu in modern tongues), < Gr. 
'I/7<7ot>f,< Heb. Teshu'a, also Yoshu'a, contr. of Te- 
hoshu'a (forms transliterated, in the LL. and E. 
versions of the Old Testament, as Jeshua, Josh- 
ua, and Jehoshua respectively), a name meaning 
'Jehovah is salvation' or 'help of Jehovah': see 
Jehovah. The name was a very common one 
among the Jews, esp. during the Hellenizing 
period, when it assumed the Gr. form 'Ir/aovf, 
being sometimes assimilated to the purely Gr. 
'Idaav, Jason (cf. iaatf, healing, < laaOai, heal). 
A special significance was impressed upon the 
name when it was given to the child proclaim- 
ed to be the Saviour of mankind (Mat. i. 21; 
Luke i. 31).] 1 . The Greek form of Joshua, used 
in the authorized version of the Bible twice to 
designate the Jewish leader so named (Acts vii. 
45, Heb. iv. 8), once to designate a man called 
Justus (Col. iv. 11), and elsewhere as the per- 
sonal name of the Saviour, frequently conjoined 
with Christ, the Anointed, the official title. 
She [Mary] shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call 
his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their 
sins. Mat. i. 21. 
2f. With the article, a representation of the 
crucifixion or of the ecce homo, or even of the 
mere emblem of Christ, such as the I. H. S. or 
S^: used in old inventories, etc Company of 
Jesus, the order of Jesuits. Order of Jesus, of Jesus 
Christ, etc., the name of several orders of more or less re- 
ligious character, in Spain, Sweden, etc. 
2. [1. c.] Same as Jesuitical. 
Jesuitical (jez-u-it'i-kal), a. [< Jesuitic + -itl.] 
Designing; crafty; politic; insinuating: an op- 
probrious term. 
Though for fashion's sake called a parliament, yet by a 
Jesuitical sleight not acknowledged, though called so. 
Milton, Eikonoklastes, 13. 
He has been accused of a Jesuitical tendency, of a dis- 
position to find arguments in favor of acts after the acts 
have been performed. . N. A. Rev., CXL1I. 589. 
jesuitically (jez-u-it'i-kal-i), adc. In a Jesuiti- 
cal, insinuating, or politic manner; craftily. 
jesuitish (jez'u-it-ish), a. [< Jesuit + -is/i 1 .] 
Jesuitical. 
jet 1 (jet), v. ; pret. and pp. jetted, ppr. jetting. 
[< ME. jetten, getten, < OF. jetter, Jeter, getter, 
geter,jecter, F. Jeter, cast, hurl, throw, fling, dart, 
put or push forth, = Pr. getar, gitar, gietar = 
Sp.jitar = It. gittare, gettare, throw, etc., < L. 
jactare, throw, hurl, cast, toss, shake, agitate, 
etc., freq. ofjacere, throw (>jacere, lie), akin to 
Gr. tcmreiv, throw : see iambic. From the same 
L. source are abject, project, reject, subject, tra- 
ject, etc., with many derivatives, abjection, ad- 
jection, etc., adjective, objective, ete.,jacent, ad- 
jacent, circumjacent, jactation, jettison, jetsam, 
jactitation, jaculate, ejaculate, etc., also amice 1 , 
gist 1 , gist 2 , joist, and, connected directly with 
jet, its doublet jut, and jetty 1 , jutty, etc.] I. 
trans. To throw out; shoot out; spurt forth, 
especially from a small orifice; spout; spurt. 
But that, instead of this form, so incommodious for the 
conveyance of waters, it should be jetted out every where 
into hills and dales so necessary for that purpose, is a 
manifest sign of an especial providence of the wise Cre- 
ator. Derham, Physico-Theology, iii. 4. 
A dozen angry models jetted steam. 
Tennyson, Princess, ProL 
II. intrans. If. To shoot forward ; shoot out ; 
project; jut. 
His eyebrows jetted out like the round casement of an 
alderman's dining-room. Middleton, Black Book. 
2f. To strut ; stalk ; assume a haughty or pom- 
pous carriage ; be proud. 
I see Parmeno come iettyng like a lord, but see howe 
idle he is, as one out of all care and thought. 
J. Udall, Flowres, fol. 97. 
The orders I did set, 
They were obey'd with joy, which made me jet. 
Mir. for Mags., p. 202. 
3f. To encroach offensively. Xares. 
