Travesty, n.; pl. Travesties (.
A burlesque translation or imitation of a work. The second edition is not a recast, but absolutely a travesty of the first. De Quincey.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Travesty, a.
Disguised by dress so as to be ridiculous; travestied; -- applied to a book or shorter composition. [R.]
Travesty, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Travestied; p. pr. & vb. n. Travesting.]
To translate, imitate, or represent, so as to render ridiculous or ludicrous. I see poor Lucan travestied, not appareled in his Roman toga, but under the cruel shears of an English tailor. Bentley.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for travesty; he lists it under caricature.
Where he writes about it:
A parody changes the subject, but keeps the style; a travesty keeps the subject, but changes the style; a burlesque does not hold itself to either subject or style; but is content with a general resemblance to what it may imitate. — from caricature
A caricature, parody, or travesty must have an original; a burlesque may be an independent composition. — from caricature
An account of a schoolboys' quarrel after the general manner of Homer's Iliad would be a burlesque; the real story of the Iliad told in newspaper style would be a travesty. — from caricature
Antonyms
none given