What is "farce"

Farce \Farce\, n. [F. farce, from L. farsus (also sometimes farctus), p. p. pf farcire. See Farce, v. t.]

1. (Cookery) Stuffing, or mixture of viands, like that used on dressing a fowl; forcemeat.

2. A low style of comedy; a dramatic composition marked by low humor, generally written with little regard to regularity or method, and abounding with ludicrous incidents and expressions.

   Farce is that in poetry which ``grotesque'' is in a picture: the persons and action of a farce are all unnatural, and the manners false.
   --Dryden.

3. Ridiculous or empty show; as, a mere farce. ``The farce of state.''
   --Pope.

Farce \Farce\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Farced, p. pr. & vb. n. Farcing.] [F. Farcir, L. farcire; akin to Gr. ???????? to fence in, stop up. Cf. Force to stuff, Diaphragm, Frequent, Farcy, Farse.]

1. To stuff with forcemeat; hence, to fill with mingled ingredients; to fill full; to stuff. [Obs.]

   The first principles of religion should not be farced with school points and private tenets.
   --Bp. Sanderson.

   His tippet was aye farsed full of knives.
   --Chaucer.

2. To render fat. [Obs.]

   If thou wouldst farce thy lean ribs.
   --B. Jonson.

3. To swell out; to render pompous. [Obs.]

   Farcing his letter with fustian.
   --Sandys.

late 14c., "force-meat, stuffing;" 1520s, in the dramatic sense "ludicrous satire; low comedy," from Middle French farce "comic interlude in a mystery play" (16c.), literally "stuffing," from Old French farcir "to stuff," (13c.), from Latin farcire "to stuff, cram," which is of uncertain origin, perhaps from PIE *bhrekw- "to cram together," and thus related to frequens "crowded."\n\n... for a farce is that in poetry which grotesque is in a picture. The persons and action of a farce are all unnatural, and the manners false, that is, inconsisting with the characters of mankind. [Dryden, "A Parallel of Poetry and Painting"]\nAccording to OED and other sources, the pseudo-Latin farsia was applied 13c. in France and England to praise phrases inserted into liturgical formulae (for example between kyrie and eleison) at the principal festivals, then in Old French farce was extended to the impromptu buffoonery among actors that was a feature of religious stage plays. Generalized sense of "a ridiculous sham" is from 1690s in English.\n

Etymology 1 n. 1 (lb en uncountable) A style of humor marked by broad improbabilities with little regard to regularity or method; compare '''sarcasm'''. 2 (lb en countable) A motion picture or play featuring this style of humor. 3 (lb en uncountable) A situation abounding with ludicrous incidents. Etymology 2

vb. 1 To stuff with forcemeat. 2 (context figurative English) To fill full; to stuff. 3 (context obsolete English) To make fat. 4 (context obsolete English) To swell out; to render pompous.

1. n. a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations [syn: farce comedy, travesty]

2. mixture of ground raw chicken and mushrooms with pistachios and truffles and onions and parsley and lots of butter and bound with eggs [syn: forcemeat]

In theatre, a farce is a comedy that aims at entertaining the audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, and thus improbable. Farces are often highly incomprehensible plot-wise (due to the many plot twists and random events that occur), but viewers are encouraged not to try to follow the plot in order to avoid becoming confused and overwhelmed. Farce is also characterized by physical humor, the use of deliberate absurdity or nonsense, and broadly stylized performances. Farces have been written for the stage and film. Furthermore, a farce is also often set in one particular location, where all events occur.