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“travesty”
1. A false or exaggerated representation of something; a farce, a ludicrous imitation, or a mockery: The comedian's travesty of a senator making a speech was very funny.
2. Something that is shocking, upsetting, or ridiculous because it is not what it is supposed to be: Bertha thought it was a travesty and a tragedy that so many people are denied the right to vote.
4. Etymology: meaning "dressed so as to be made ridiculous or burlesqued (make funny or joke about)", from French travesti, "dressed in disguise", from travestir, "to disguise", from Italian travestire, "to disguise," from Latin trans-, "over" + vestire, "to clothe".
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2. Something that is shocking, upsetting, or ridiculous because it is not what it is supposed to be: Bertha thought it was a travesty and a tragedy that so many people are denied the right to vote.
The investigation into what caused the accident was so poorly done that it turned into a travesty.
3. A court case that makes a mockery of the legal system: The entire courtroom trial was a travesty of justice.4. Etymology: meaning "dressed so as to be made ridiculous or burlesqued (make funny or joke about)", from French travesti, "dressed in disguise", from travestir, "to disguise", from Italian travestire, "to disguise," from Latin trans-, "over" + vestire, "to clothe".
"Why is there a vest in travesty? Because it comes from Italian travestirse, "to dress up in another person's clothes or vestments; especially, to present a comical imitation or a parody."
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Word Entries at Get Words:
“travesty”
An exaggerated representation of something; a farce, a ludicrous imitation; such as, a court case that makes a mockery of the legal system. (2)
This entry is located in the following unit:
Word a Day Revisited Index of Cartoons Illustrating the Meanings of Words
(page 78)