crossnessn.
/ˈkrɒsnəs/, /ˈkrɔːsnəs/, U.S. /ˈkrɔsnəs/, /ˈkrɑsnəs/ 1. The state or quality of being cross, transverse, or athwart; ‘transverseness, intersection’ (Johnson).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > fact or condition of being transverse > intersection > [noun] > state of being crossed
crossness1605
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Eee2 To keepe theme [sc. laws] from being..too ful of multiplicitie & crossnesse . View more context for this quotation
1750 H. Walpole Let. 23 June in Corr. (1941) IX. 107 Lord Petersham with his nose and legs twisted to every point of crossness.
2.
a. The state of being contrary or opposed; opposition, adverseness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > [noun]
contrariositya1340
adversitya1382
champertyc1386
contrariousness1398
thwartingc1430
contrariancec1450
contrariness?1530
withsitting1532
oppugning1535
opposition1548
oppugnation1563
thwartness1577
adverseness1580
crossing1580
breasting1594
antipathy1601
oppugnancy1609
affrontment1611
opposure1611
thortera1614
contrariancya1617
obstancy1616
oppositeness1619
contropposition1621
obstrigillation1623
opposing1624
hostility1632
opposal1638
crossness1641
affront1642
aversion1651
oppugnance1657
shock1664
opponency1727
counteraction1750
antagonism1797
throwing1816
oppositiveness1824
kick1839
variance1842
opposedness1853
againstness1909
hornet1921
adversariness1970
oppositionality1989
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > [noun] > unfavourable character
contrariositya1340
badness1539
iniquity?c1550
naughtiness1550
thrawardness1567
perverseness1578
crossness1641
awkwardness1674
unhappiness1704
unpropitiousness1756
unfavourableness1765
untowardness1779
contrariousness1853
1641 Disc. Pr. Henry in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) III. 525 Through any crossness of cards or chance.
1673 H. Hickman Hist. Quinq-articularis 465 Let us see whether there be any such crossness or no.
1736 T. Carte Hist. Life Duke Ormonde II. 449 There being besides crossness of interests, some private piques between the Prince and him.
b. of the wind: cf. cross adj. 1c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > wind as means of propulsion > condition of
crossness1646
1646 Ld. Digby Let. in Carte Ormonde (1735) III. 456 The crossness of the winds to the shipping which they expected.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xii. 251 That the crossness of the Wind only hinder'd the arrival of those Supplies.
3.
a. Disposition to oppose or be contrary; perverse tendency, disposition, or temper.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [noun] > perverseness
frowardnessa1300
waywardnessc1384
wrawnessc1386
frowardship14..
perversity?a1425
frowardheadc1470
overthwartnessc1475
adversity1489
perversednessa1500
thrawnness1499
untowardnessa1525
protervitya1527
repugnancy1557
thrawardness1567
contrariousness1571
crookedness1576
thwartness1577
pervertness1581
peevishness1582
awkness1587
crabbedness1598
untowardliness1598
crossness1600
difficileness1612
contrariness1642
perverseness1644
cross-grainedness1652
wrong-headedness1740
pigheadedness1801
cussedness1852
orneriness1880
bloody-mindedness1910
difficultness1934
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. iii. 171 She will die if he wooe her, rather than shee will bate one breath of her accustomed crosnesse . View more context for this quotation
a1677 I. Barrow Serm. Several Occasions (1678) 28 A peevish crosness and obstinate repugnancy to received laws.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. iii. 169 The scoffer and caviller moves as much by impulse of vanity as crossness.
b. Peevishness, ill-humour.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > peevishness > [noun]
crabbingc1450
protervitya1527
peevishness1561
pettishness1603
fretfulness1615
huffiness1678
froppishness1688
petulancy1712
fractiousness1727
crossness1740
petulance1785
bile1836
huffishness1841
biliousness1856
pettedness1860
strop1970
1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. xxiii. 61 I am vex'd, his Crossness affects me so.
1823 C. Lamb Dream-children in Elia 235 I missed his kindness, and I missed his crossness, and wished him to be alive again.
1862 Mrs. H. Wood Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles i. v. 28 I beg your pardon for my crossness, but you put me out of temper.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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