farce

¹farce

transitive verb \ˈfärs\

farcedfarc·ing

Definition of FARCE

1

: stuff

2

: to improve as if by stuffing

Origin of FARCE

Middle English farsen, from Anglo-French farsir, from Latin farcire

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with FARCE

parse, sparse

²farce

noun

Definition of FARCE

1

: a savory stuffing : forcemeat

2

: a light dramatic composition marked by broadly satirical comedy and improbable plot

3

: the broad humor characteristic of farce

4

: an empty or patently ridiculous act, proceeding, or situation <the trial became a farce>

Examples of FARCE

1. an actor with a talent for farce
2. <the recall of a duly elected official for a frivolous reason is not democracy in action but a farce>

Origin of FARCE

Middle English farse, from Middle French farce, from Vulgar Latin *farsa, from Latin, feminine of farsus, past participle of farcire

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to FARCE

Synonyms

caricature, cartoon, mockery, joke, parody, sham, travesty

Related Words

burlesque, comedy; lampoon, takeoff; counterfeit, fake, feigning, forgery, hoax, humbug, knockoff, phony (also phoney), pretense (or pretence), sham, simulation

Near Antonyms

homage, tribute

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

farce

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Light, dramatic composition that uses highly improbable situations, stereotyped characters, violent horseplay, and broad humour. Farce is generally regarded as intellectually and aesthetically inferior to comedy in its crude characterizations and implausible plots, but it has remained popular throughout the West from ancient times to the present.