RAILLERY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does raillery mean? 

• RAILLERY (noun)
  The noun RAILLERY has 1 sense:

1. light teasing repartee

  Familiarity information: RAILLERY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RAILLERY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Light teasing repartee

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

backchat; banter; give-and-take; raillery

Hypernyms ("raillery" is a kind of...):

repartee (adroitness and cleverness in reply)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "raillery"):

badinage (frivolous banter)

persiflage (light teasing)

 Context examples 

Excitement instantly seized the whole party: a running fire of raillery and jests was proceeding when Sam returned.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

What I did, said Alleyne, was too small a thing for thanks; and yet, if I may say it without offence, it was too grave and near a matter for mirth and raillery.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

To the former her raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only himself, perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was at first incomprehensible; and when its object was understood, she hardly knew whether most to laugh at its absurdity, or censure its impertinence, for she considered it as an unfeeling reflection on the colonel's advanced years, and on his forlorn condition as an old bachelor.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The captain understood my raillery very well, and merrily replied with the old English proverb, that he doubted mine eyes were bigger than my belly, for he did not observe my stomach so good, although I had fasted all day; and, continuing in his mirth, protested he would have gladly given a hundred pounds, to have seen my closet in the eagle’s bill, and afterwards in its fall from so great a height into the sea; which would certainly have been a most astonishing object, worthy to have the description of it transmitted to future ages: and the comparison of Phaëton was so obvious, that he could not forbear applying it, although I did not much admire the conceit.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Perhaps Catherine was wrong in not demanding the cause of that gentle emotion—but she was not experienced enough in the finesse of love, or the duties of friendship, to know when delicate raillery was properly called for, or when a confidence should be forced.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Marianne was vexed at it for her sister's sake, and turned her eyes towards Elinor to see how she bore these attacks, with an earnestness which gave Elinor far more pain than could arise from such common-place raillery as Mrs. Jennings's.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

With the assistance of his mother-in-law, Sir John was not long in discovering that the name of Ferrars began with an F. and this prepared a future mine of raillery against the devoted Elinor, which nothing but the newness of their acquaintance with Edward could have prevented from being immediately sprung.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Their attention and wit were drawn off to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the other had incurred before any partiality arose, was removed when his feelings began really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to sensibility.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton for observing, at this moment, that it rained very hard, though she believed the interruption to proceed less from any attention to her, than from her ladyship's great dislike of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as delighted her husband and mother.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

But so little were they, anymore than the others, inclined to oblige her, that if Sir John dined from home, she might spend a whole day without hearing any other raillery on the subject, than what she was kind enough to bestow on herself.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)