cross
/kɹɔs/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: 5.00 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
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.
noun
Any geometric figure having this or a similar shape, such as a cross of Lorraine or a Maltese cross.
noun
A wooden post with a perpendicular beam attached and used (especially in the Roman Empire) to execute criminals (by crucifixion).
noun
Alternative letter-case form of Cross (“the Crucifix, the cross on which Christ was crucified”).
noun
Any representation of the crucifix, as in religious architecture, burial markers, jewelry, etc.
Example Sentences
- "Put a cross for a wrong answer and a tick for a right one."
- "Criminals were commonly executed on a wooden cross."
- "True Cross"
- "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."
- "She made the cross after swearing."
- "She was wearing a cross on her necklace."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-der.? Proto-Italic *kruks /*krukis Latin cruxbor. Old Irish crosbor. Old Norse krossbor. Old English cros Middle English cross English cross 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”)
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /kɹɔs/
- British English: /kɹɒs/
Usage
Inflected Forms
crosses (plural)
crosser (comparative)
crossest (superlative)
crosses (present, singular)
crossing (participle, present)
crossed (participle, past)
crossed (past)
no-table-tags (table tags)
glossary (inflection template)
crossed (first person, past)
crossest (archaic, present)
crossed (past, second person)