See Also: CROSS(finance)
cross-(dictionary)
cross(3)(dictionary)
Red Cross(dictionary)
hot-cross bun(dictionary)
Red Cross(encyclopedia)
red cross(medicine)
O.K. to cross(finance)
cross-cut bur(medicine)
Cross(medicine)

serpentry (iou) and cross(4) (iou)


serpentry (iou)



serpentry noun. E19.
[from SERPENT noun + -RY.]
Serpents or serpentine creatures collectively. E19.
A serpentarium. rare. M19.

cross(4) (iou)



cross verb. ME.
[from CROSS noun.]
verb trans. Make the sign of the cross on or over (esp. oneself, as an act of devotion or reverence or to invoke divine protection). ME.
verb trans. Draw a line or lines across; (usu. foll. by off, out) cancel in this way. LME.
Thackeray I have..crossed the t's and dotted the i's. E. Bowen Hermione..crossed off the days on her calendar.
verb trans. Of a line etc.: intersect; lie or pass across. LME.
b. verb intrans. Intersect, lie or pass across each Other. L17.
A. Mason A pair of stout sticks had been thrust into the ground slantwise so that they crossed near the top.
c. verb trans. Bestride (a horse). M18.
verb trans. Place crosswise (with); set (things) across one another; place (one thing) over another. L15.
M. Keane They crossed and uncrossed their legs clumsily. S. Plath I sat..and crossed my right ankle over my left knee.
a. verb intrans. Pass (over) from one side or end to or to the Other. L15.
R. Adams We will cross to the further side of the river. T. Stoppard French enters and crosses to his place. C. P. Snow They had to cross, to the island in the middle of the road.
b. verb trans. Pass over (a line, boundary, etc.); go or Travel across (a region etc.). L16.
H. James If he crossed that threshold. J. Conrad I crossed the landing to my sitting-room. N. Coward If we crossed Siberia by train.
c. verb trans. Of a thing: extend across. L16.
O. Henry A little river..crossed by a hundred little bridges.
d. verb trans. Carry or take (something) across. E19.
e. verb trans. & intrans. Football etc. Pass (the ball) across the pitch, esp. from a wing to the centre. M20.
verb trans.
a. Thwart; resist the wishes of; oppose (a plan etc.). M16.
C. Wilson When crossed, he had an explosive temper.
b. Contradict; contravene. L16-M18.
c. Debar from. rare. L16-M17.
a. verb trans. Meet in one's way, esp. adversely. arch. L16.
b. verb trans. & intrans. (with on, upon). Come across, encounter. Now rare. L17.
a. verb trans. Meet and pass; pass in an opposite direction; (of a letter etc.) be on its way at the same time as (one to the sender from the recipient). L18.
C. Lamb Now and then a solitary Gardening man would cross me. K. M. E. Murray His letter crossed an apology from Wheatley.
b. verb intrans. (Of a letter etc.) be on its way at the same time as one to the sender from the recipient (foll. by with); (of letters etc. between two people) be on their way at the same time. L18.
Dickens This letter will cross with your second.
verb trans. Breed (an animal or plant) with or with one of a different breed, variety, etc.; modify by this means. L18.
verb trans. Act dishonestly towards (a person) or in (a matter). slang. E19.
Phrases, & with adverbs in specialized senses: cross a cheque draw or print two parallel lines across a cheque, so that it has to be paid into a bank account. cross a person's hand (with silver), cross a person's palm (with silver) give a person a coin as payment for fortune-telling (orig. describing a cross with it in the palm). cross my heart (and hope to die): see HEART noun. cross one's bridge when one comes to it: see BRIDGE noun1 1. cross one's face appear briefly in one's expression. cross one's fingers crook one finger over another to bring good luck. cross one's heart make the sign of the cross over one's heart in attestation of sincerity. cross one's mind come suddenly into one's thoughts. cross one's path meet, esp. so as to obstruct or thwart; pass across one's path in front of one. cross over (a) Biology (of chromosome segments) undergo crossing over (CROSSING over); (b) euphem. die; (see also senses 4, 5a above). cross swords fig. have a fight, controversy, or overt rivalry, (with). cross the floor: see FLOOR noun. cross the T: see T, T 2. cross the t's: see T, T 1. cross wires accidentally connect telephone circuits so that one call is heard with another; fig. have a misunderstanding; (usu. in pass.). get one's wires crossed = cross wires above. keep one's fingers crossed keep one finger over another to bring good luck; be in suspenseful hope (that).
crossable adjective M19.
crosser noun M16.