facetiae

[ fuh-see-shee-ee ]

plural noun

1. amusing or witty remarks or writings.
2. Older Use. pornographic books or other writings.

facetiae

/ fəˈsiːʃɪˌiː /

plural noun

1. humorous or witty sayings
2. obscene or coarsely witty books

Word History and Origins

Origin of facetiae¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin, plural of facētia “something witty, a joke”; facete, -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of facetiae¹

C17: from Latin: jests, plural of facētia witticism, from facētus elegant

Example Sentences

There’s anecdotal evidence of archives of bons mots and jokes being collected as early as the fourth century BC, and a Greek joke book called Philogelos, “The Laughter-Lover,” survives from the fourth or fifth century ad—just as facetiae were collected in the Renaissance and lists of off-the-rack jokes supposedly suitable for best man’s speeches proliferate on the Internet.

From Literature

The troopers behind, too much occupied by their potations, and the facetiae of the attendants who administered them, saw not that little bit of shining steel, that, in the habile hands of the ex-footpad, was fast severing the cords that confined Henry Holtspur to his place.

From Project Gutenberg

Somewhat less outspoken than Balzac in his "Droll Stories," and less verbose than Boccaccio, Machen proves himself the peer of either in gay, irresponsible, diverting, unflagging invention, while his diction is lovelier than that of any of his forerunners, including the nameless authors of those rich Arabian tapestries which were the parent tales of all mediaeval and modern facetiae.

From Project Gutenberg

Andrea was something of a wit and is quoted in the Facetiae of Domenichi.

From Project Gutenberg

He was the most remarkable of a class of charlatans, others of whom bore the names of Gaultier-Garguille, Gros-Guillaume, etc., and the work which goes under his name is typical of a large mass of facetiae.

From Project Gutenberg