n. pl. trav·es·ties 1. A debased or grotesque likeness: elections that were a travesty of democracy. 2. An exaggerated or grotesque imitation, such as a parody of a literary work. tr.v. trav·es·tied, trav·es·ty·ing, trav·es·ties To make a travesty of; parody or ridicule. [From obsolete, disguised, burlesqued, from French travesti, past participle of travestir, to disguise, parody, from Italian travestire : Latin trāns-, trans- + Latin vestīre, to dress (from vestis, garment; see wes-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] |
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