farce
farce Lexical Profile
farce Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An event, situation, or proceeding that is so disorganized, absurd, or futile that it cannot be taken seriously.
"Critics argued that the poorly managed investigation quickly degenerated into a complete farce."
A comic dramatic work using buffoonery, horseplay, and improbable situations to entertain the audience; also, the genre of comedy characterized by such elements.
"The local theater company staged a classic nineteenth-century French farce filled with mistaken identities and slamming doors."
A seasoned mixture of finely chopped meat, herbs, or breadcrumbs used as culinary stuffing.
"The chef prepared a delicate mushroom and herb farce to fill the roasted poultry."
• verb
To stuff (meat, poultry, or vegetables) with forcemeat or seasoned herbs before cooking.
"Traditional recipes instruct the cook to farce the capon with minced veal and aromatic spices."
To embellish or pad out (a speech, play, or piece of writing) with wit, jokes, or extraneous material.
"The playwright decided to farce the solemn dialogue with lively comedic interludes to keep the crowd engaged."
• Rhymes for farce
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French 'farce' (literally 'stuffing'), from Latin 'farcire' ('to stuff'). The theatrical sense arose in the Middle Ages when actors began 'stuffing' impromptu comic interludes into serious religious plays.