Adjacent Words
cross-linkcross-linkage
cross-modal
cross-national
cross-ownership
Cross-pawl
Cross-piece
cross-ply
cross-pollinate
cross-pollinating
cross-pollination
cross-purposes
Cross-question
Cross-questioned
cross-questioner
Cross-questioning
cross-react
cross-reaction
cross-reactive
cross-reactivity
Cross-reading
cross-refer
cross-reference
Full-text Search for "Cross-purpose"
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Cross-purpose definitions
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Webster's 1828 Dictionary
CROSS-PURPOSE, n. A contrary purpose; contradictory system; also, a conversation in which one person does or pretends to misunderstand anothers meaning. An enigma; a riddle.
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)
n
1: a contrary aim; "at cross-purposes"
Merriam Webster's
noun Date: 1668 a purpose usually unintentionally contrary to another purpose of oneself or of someone or something else — usually used in plural< the two were always working at cross-purposes >
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
Cross-purpose Cross"-pur`pose (-p?r`p?s), n. 1. A counter or opposing purpose; hence, that which is inconsistent or contradictory. --Shaftesbury. 2. pl. A conversational game, in which questions and answers are made so as to involve ludicrous combinations of ideas. --Pepys. To be at cross-purposes, to misunderstand or to act counter to one another without intending it; -- said of persons.
