jape
0 antonyms and opposites of jape, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A prank or piece of playful mischief, especially one described in a light-hearted or old-fashioned way.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A prank or piece of playful mischief, especially one described in a light-hearted or old-fashioned way.
“The boys were caned for what the headmaster called a schoolboy jape.”
2. noun
A joke or witty remark.
“He opened his speech with a jape at his own expense.”
How to use jape
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Archaic or humorously literary. British.
Etymology
Middle English jape, of uncertain origin; possibly from Old French japer, to yelp or chatter.
Full origin of jape →Frequently asked questions
Is jape still used today?
Rarely, and almost always deliberately. British writers reach for it when they want a slightly arch, public-school or Victorian tone, and it turns up in headlines about student stunts.
What is the difference between a jape and a prank?
They mean the same thing, but the register is very different. "Prank" is the ordinary modern word; "jape" is archaic and jokey, and using it signals that the writer is not taking the incident seriously.