Lexic.us

Definition of Banter

1. Noun. Light teasing repartee.

2. Verb. Be silly or tease one another. "After we relaxed, we just kidded around"

Definition of Banter

1. v. t. To address playful good-natured ridicule to, -- the person addressed, or something pertaining to him, being the subject of the jesting; to rally; as, he bantered me about my credulity.

2. n. The act of bantering; joking or jesting; humorous or good-humored raillery; pleasantry.

Definition of Banter

1. Noun. Good humoured, playful, typically spontaneous conversation. ¹

2. Verb. (intransitive) To engage in banter or playful conversation. ¹

3. Verb. (intransitive) To play or do something amusing. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To tease mildly. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Banter

1. to exchange mildly teasing remarks [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Banter

banshee banshees banshies banstickle banstickles bansuri bant bantam bantams bantamweight

bantamweights banted banteng bantengs banter (current term) bantered banterer banterers bantering banteringly

banterings banters bantery banties banting bantings bantling bantlings bants

Literary usage of Banter

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms by Frederic Sturges Allen (1920)
"spec, braggart, jackanapes, upstart. banter, r. ... Cross references: set Note. banter: ... banter ..."

2. Synonyms Discriminated: A Complete Catalogue of Synonymous Words in the by Charles John Smith (1871)
"We banter (probably derived from the French badiner) when we play upon another ... So banter has always a somewhat mischievous foree ; but rally often means ..."

3. The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: Including A Journal of a Tour to the by James Boswell, John Wilson Croker (1831)
"... Dr. Grainger, or some of his friends, it should seem, having become sensible that introducing even rats, in a grave poem, might be liable to banter. ..."

4. A Dictionary of Lowland Scotch: With an Introductory Chapter Onthe Poetry by Charles Mackay (1888)
"... to tease, to perplex, to banter; from the Gaelic lea- gamb, doubt, perplexity. Two irreverent young fellows determined to ..."

5. Daniel Defoe: His Life and Recently Discovered Writings: Extending from 1716 by Lee, William, Daniel Defoe (1869)
"banter on Whiggish South-Sea Directors. AJ, Dec. 31.—I put an Enquiry upon you in my last Letter concerning the South-Sea Directors, and the Ringleaders of ..."

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