Word: cross Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English cross, cros, from Old English cros (“rood, cross”), from Old Norse kross, from Old Irish cros, from Latin crux (crucī). In this sense displaced native Middle English rode, from Old English rōd (“cross”); see English rood. Doublet of crouch (“cross”) and crux. Compare Welsh croes, Irish crois. The sense of "two intersecting lines drawn or cut on a surface; two lines intersecting at right angles" without regard to religious signification develops from the late 14th century. Cognates *Icelandic kross (“cross”) *Faroese krossur (“cross”) *Norwegian Nynorsk kross, kors (“cross”) *Danish kors (“cross”) *Swedish kors (“cross”) *North Frisian kross, korss (“cross”) *Saterland Frisian Krjuus, Kjus (“cross”) *West Frisian krús (“cross”) *Dutch kruis (“cross”) *German Low German Krüüz (“cross”) *German Kreuz (“cross”) Pronunciation: /kɹɒs/, /kɹɔs/, /kɹɑs/, [kɹɔ̟s] 1. A geometrical figure consisting of two straight lines or bars intersecting each other such that at least one of them is bisected by the other. Example: Put a cross for a wrong answer and a tick for a right one. 2. Any geometric figure having this or a similar shape, such as a cross of Lorraine or a Maltese cross. 3. A wooden post with a perpendicular beam attached and used (especially in the Roman Empire) to execute criminals (by crucifixion). Example: Criminals were commonly executed on a wooden cross. 4. Alternative letter-case form of Cross (“the Crucifix, the cross on which Christ was crucified”). Labels: alt-of Example: True Cross Example: From the dim landscape roll the clouds away— / The Christians have regained their heritage; / Before the Cross has waned the Crescent's ray, / And many a monastery decks the stage, / And lofty church, and low-brow'd hermitage. 5. A hand gesture made in imitation of the shape of the Cross; sign of the cross. Example: She made the cross after swearing. 6. Any representation of the crucifix, as in religious architecture, burial markers, jewelry, etc. Example: She was wearing a cross on her necklace. 7. A difficult situation that must be endured. Labels: figuratively Example: It's a cross I must bear. Example: Heaven prepares good men with crosses. 8. The act of going across; the act of passing from one side to the other Example: A quick cross of the road. 9. An animal or plant produced by crossbreeding or cross-fertilization. 10. One element of a hybrid species or type. Example: The native Amboynese who reside in the city are a strange half-civilized, half-savage lazy people, who seem to be a mixture of at least three races - Portuguese, Malay, and Papuan or Ceramese, with an occasional cross of Chinese or Dutch. 11. A hybrid of any kind. Labels: broadly Example: Toning down the ancient Viking into a sort of a cross between Paul Jones and Jeremy Diddler 12. A hook thrown over the opponent's punch. 13. A pass in which the ball is kicked from a side of the pitch to a position close to the opponent’s goal. Example: And Stamford Bridge erupted with joy as Florent Malouda slotted in a cross from Drogba, who had stayed just onside. Example: More German peril would follow as Joshua Kimmich swung in a cross for Havertz, whose well-placed header was majestically saved by Yahia Fofana. 14. A place where roads intersect and lead off in four directions; a crossroad (common in UK and Irish place names such as Gerrards Cross). 15. A monument that marks such a place. (Also common in UK or Irish place names such as Charing Cross) 16. A coin stamped with the figure of a cross, or that side of such a piece on which the cross is stamped; hence, money in general. Labels: obsolete Example: I should bear no cross if I did bear you; for I think you have no money in your purse. 17. Church lands. Labels: Ireland, obsolete Example: the church-lands lying within the same, which were called the Cross 18. A line across or through another line. 19. An instrument for laying of offsets perpendicular to the main course. 20. A pipe-fitting with four branches whose axes usually form a right angle. 21. Four edge cubies of one side that are in their right places, forming the shape of a cross. 22. The thirty-sixth Lenormand card. 23. A betrayal; dishonest practices, especially deliberately losing a sporting contest. Labels: archaic 24. Crossfire. Labels: slang