Word of the Day

: September 8, 2007

jape

verb JAYP

What It Means

1 : to say or do something jokingly or mockingly

2 : to make mocking fun of

jape in Context

At the convention, the younger gamers japed at the low-tech graphics of the early consoles on display.

Did You Know?

"Jape" mysteriously appeared in the English language during the 14th century and was adopted by literary folks, such as Geoffrey Chaucer, as a word meaning both "to trick" and "to jeer." It was also used, however, with the meanings "to seduce (someone)" or "to have sexual intercourse." This ambiguity forced writers to think twice about using "jape" in fear of misinterpretation. Ultimately, the word was avoided by respectable writers, and by the end of the 16th century it had fallen into disuse. But this four-letter word was not completely forgotten. It got its second chance when 19th-century writers began using its "jeer" meaning again -- leaving its carnal meaning in oblivion.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.