Dictionary
1travesty
transitive verb trav·es·ty \ˈtra-və-stē\
trav·es·tiedtrav·es·ty·ing
Definition of TRAVESTY
: to make a travesty of : parody
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First Known Use of TRAVESTY
1673
2travesty
noun
: something that is shocking, upsetting, or ridiculous because it is not what it is supposed to be
plural travesties
Full Definition of TRAVESTY
1
: a burlesque translation or literary or artistic imitation usually grotesquely incongruous in style, treatment, or subject matter
2
: a debased, distorted, or grossly inferior imitation <a travesty of justice>
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Origin of TRAVESTY
obsolete English travesty disguised, parodied, from French travesti, past participle of travestir to disguise, from Italian travestire, from tra- across (from Latin trans-) + vestire to dress, from Latin — more at vest
First Known Use: 1674
Synonym Discussion of TRAVESTY
caricature, burlesque, parody, travesty mean a comic or grotesque imitation. caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject <caricatures of politicians in cartoons>. burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment <a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court>. parody applies especially to treatment of a trivial or ludicrous subject in the exactly imitated style of a well-known author or work <a witty parody of a popular novel>. travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd <this production is a travesty of the opera>.
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