travesty Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations
    farce; farce comedy.
  2. noun a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way
    pasquinade; mockery; takeoff; lampoon; sendup; put-on; spoof; charade; burlesque; parody.
  3. verb make a travesty of

WordNet

Trav"es*ty adjective
Etymology
F. travesti, p. p. of travestir to disguise, to travesty, It. travestire, fr. L. trans across, over + vestire to dress, clothe. See Vest.
Definitions
  1. Disguised by dress so as to be ridiculous; travestied; -- applied to a book or shorter composition. R.
Trav"es*ty noun
Wordforms
plural Travesties
Definitions
  1. A burlesque translation or imitation of a work.
    The second edition is not a recast, but absolutely a travesty of the first. De Quincey.
Trav"es*ty transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Travestied ; present participle & verbal noun Travesting
Definitions
  1. To translate, imitate, or represent, so as to render ridiculous or ludicrous.
    I see poor Lucan travestied, not appareled in his Roman toga, but under the cruel shears of an English tailor. Bentley.

Webster 1913