travesty of justice

  • 1travesty — [trav′is tē] n. pl. travesties [orig. an adj. < Fr travesti, pp. of travestir, to disguise, travesty < It travestire < L trans , TRANS + vestire, to dress, attire: see VEST] 1. a grotesque or farcical imitation for purposes of ridicule;… …

    English World dictionary

  • 2justice — n. rules of law administration of law 1) to administer, dispense, mete out, render justice 2) to obstruct justice 3) to pervert justice 4) divine; frontier (US); poetic; summary justice 5) justice prevails 6) a miscarriage; travesty of justice 7) …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 3travesty — /trav euh stee/, n., pl. travesties, v., travestied, travestying. n. 1. a literary or artistic burlesque of a serious work or subject, characterized by grotesque or ludicrous incongruity of style, treatment, or subject matter. 2. a literary or… …

    Universalium

  • 4travesty — I. transitive verb ( tied; tying) Date: 1673 to make a travesty of ; parody II. noun (plural ties) Etymology: obsolete English travesty disguised, parodied, from French travesti, past participle of travestir to disguise, from Italian …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 5travesty — trav|es|ty [ˈtrævısti] n plural travesties [C usually singular] [Date: 1600 1700; : French; Origin: travesti having the usual appearance changed , from travestir to disguise , from Italian travestire, from tra across (from Latin trans ) + vestire …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 6travesty — /ˈtrævəsti / (say travuhstee) noun (plural travesties) 1. any grotesque or debased likeness or imitation: a travesty of justice. 2. a literary composition characterised by burlesque or ludicrous treatment of a serious work or subject. 3. literary …

  • 7travesty — 1. noun ˈtɹæ.vəs.ti/ a) An absurd or grotesque misrepresentation A battlefield trial is a travesty of justice. b) A parody or stylistic imitation. Syn: caricature …

    Wiktionary

  • 8travesty — n. & v. n. (pl. ies) a grotesque misrepresentation or imitation (a travesty of justice). v.tr. ( ies, ied) make or be a travesty of. Etymology: (orig. adj.) f. F travesti past part. of travestir disguise, change the clothes of, f. It. travestire… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 9travesty — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. caricature, burlesque, farce, parody, lampoon, takeoff (inf.), spoof (sl.); fiasco; absurdity. See ridicule, imitation. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. burlesque, spoof, mockery, perversion; see parody . See… …

    English dictionary for students

  • 10travesty — trav|es|ty [ trævəsti ] noun singular a situation, action, or event that shocks you because it is very different from what it should be, or because it seems very unfair: Jensen called the verdict a travesty of justice …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English