Speaks in a joking way (5) Crossword Clue
Answer: JESTS (5 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Speaks in a joking way" with 5 letters is "JESTS".Jests refers to speaking or acting in a humorous or playful manner, often making light-hearted or witty remarks. It is commonly used to describe comments or actions meant to amuse others, sometimes in a teasing or joking tone.
Why “Jests” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (5 letters) meaning “speaks in a joking way.” The answer, JESTS, fits perfectly:
- Speaks in a joking way: Jests means to speak or act in a humorous, playful, or mocking manner—exactly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With five letters, jests fits the clue’s enumeration precisely.
- Precise meaning: The word captures light-hearted or witty speech often meant to entertain, tease, or amuse rather than to insult or offend.
The word jest has a long and lively history in English, tied to humour and light banter:
- Origin and usage: From Old French geste or jest meaning “story” or “exploit,” derived from the Latin gesta (“deeds” or “doings”). The term evolved during the Middle Ages to mean playful talk, fun, or humorous expression.
- As a noun: Refers to a joke, quip, or act performed to amuse — “It was only a jest.”
- As a verb: Means to joke, tease, or engage in humorous conversation — “They jest about everything.”
Examples in context:
- “He often jests about his cooking skills.”
- “She jests to lighten the mood during tense moments.”
- “Though he speaks in jests, his words often hold truth.”
In quick crosswords like “Speaks in a joking way (5),” concise definitions of common verbs are frequent:
Definition: The phrase “speaks in a joking way” straightforwardly defines jests as the action of joking or teasing.
Clue type: Pure definition clue — no wordplay or misleading elements.
Solving approach:
- Look for short verbs signifying humour or banter (jokes, jests, quips, teases).
- The (5) enumeration narrows the options, with jests being the precise grammatical fit in third-person singular form (“he/she jests”).
Crossword pattern: Many quick crosswords rely on familiar, conversational terms like jests, which reflect everyday expressions and idioms of speech.
