travesty

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈtrævəsti/ UK /ˈtrævəsti/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a grotesque or absurd imitation or distortion of something

The hasty trial was a travesty of justice from start to finish.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a grotesque or absurd... mockery parody caricature distortion burlesque sham farce

Word family

Forms untravestied

Derived forms travestied

Related forms transvestitevest investtravesti

Simplified etymology

Travesty ultimately combines Latin trans, “across,” and vestire, “to clothe.” Its theatrical use referred to a role played by a cross-dressing performer, while its usual modern sense, “a false or absurd representation,” developed through its use for literary parodies and burlesques.

Etymology

From French travesti ('disguised'), past participle of travestir ('to disguise'), from Italian travestire, from Latin trans- ('across, over') + vestire ('to clothe, dress').

travestir Italian trans Latin vestire Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# travesty

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtrævəsti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtrævəsti/

## Meanings
1. a grotesque or absurd imitation or distortion of something

## Examples
- The hasty trial was a travesty of justice from start to finish.

## Synonyms
- mockery
- parody
- caricature
- distortion
- burlesque
- sham
- farce

## Derived Forms
- travestied

## Related Forms
- transvestite
- vest
- invest
- travesti

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: travestir
- Root: trans
- Root: vestire

## Etymology
From French travesti ('disguised'), past participle of travestir ('to disguise'), from Italian travestire, from Latin trans- ('across, over') + vestire ('to clothe, dress').

## AI Etymology
Travesty is from French travesti ('disguised'), past participle of travestir ('to disguise'), from Italian travestire, from Latin trans- ('across, over') + vestire ('to clothe, dress'). Important recorded forms include travestir (Italian), trans (Latin), and vestire (Latin). Morphologically, the trans- element contributes the sense of across, through, beyond, or change from one state into another. The modern sense continues the older lexical line without requiring a separate origin. In current use it covers a grotesque or absurd imitation or distortion of something. The wider family includes derived forms such as travestied and related words such as transvestite, vest, invest, and travesti.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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