01 v. t. To address playful good-natured ridicule to, -- the person addressed, or something pertaining to him, being the subject of the jesting; to …
imp. & p. p.
Bantered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bantering
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1.
To address playful good-natured ridicule to, -- the person addressed, or something pertaining to him, being the subject of the jesting; to rally; as, he bantered me about my credulity.“Hag-ridden by my own fancy all night, and then bantered on my haggard looks the next day.” — W. Irving.
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2.
To jest about; to ridicule in speaking of, as some trait, habit, characteristic, and the like.[Archaic]“If they banter your regularity, order, and love of study, banter in return their neglect of them.” — Chatham.
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3.
To delude or trick, -- esp. by way of jest.[Obs.]“We diverted ourselves with bantering several poor scholars with hopes of being at least his lordship's chaplain.” — De Foe.
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4.
To challenge or defy to a match.[Colloq. Southern and Western U. S.]