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Definition of travesty


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trav·es·ty  audio  (trv-st) KEY  

NOUN:
pl. trav·es·ties
  1. An exaggerated or grotesque imitation, such as a parody of a literary work.
  2. A debased or grotesque likeness: a travesty of justice. See Synonyms at caricature.
TRANSITIVE VERB:
trav·es·tied , trav·es·ty·ing , trav·es·ties
To make a travesty of; parody or ridicule.

ETYMOLOGY:
From obsolete, disguised, burlesqued, from French travesti, past participle of travestir, to disguise, parody, from Italian travestire : Latin trns-, trans- + Latin vestre, to dress (from vestis, garment; see wes- 2 in Indo-European roots)


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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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