Bur*lesque" (&?;), a. [F. burlesque,
fr. It. burlesco, fr. burla jest, mockery, perh. for
burrula, dim. of L. burrae trifles. See Bur.]
Tending to excite laughter or contempt by extravagant images, or by a
contrast between the subject and the manner of treating it, as when a
trifling subject is treated with mock gravity; jocular; ironical.
It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque
poetry runs best in heroic verse, like that of the Dispensary, or in
doggerel, like that of Hudibras.
Addison.
Bur*lesque" (&?;), n. 1.
Ludicrous representation; exaggerated parody; grotesque
satire.
Burlesque is therefore of two kinds; the first
represents mean persons in the accouterments of heroes, the other describes
great persons acting and speaking like the basest among the people.
Addison.
2. An ironical or satirical composition intended to
excite laughter, or to ridicule anything.
The dull burlesque appeared with impudence,
And pleased by novelty in spite of sense.
Dryden.
3. A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty;
a gross perversion.
Who is it that admires, and from the heart is attached to,
national representative assemblies, but must turn with horror and disgust
from such a profane burlesque and abominable perversion of that
sacred institute?
Burke.
Syn. -- Mockery; farce; travesty; mimicry.
Bur*lesque" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Burlesqued (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n.
Burlesquing (&?;).] To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by
grotesque representation in action or in language.
They burlesqued the prophet Jeremiah's words, and
turned the expression he used into ridicule.
Stillingfleet.
Bur*lesque", v. i. To employ
burlesque.
