Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
cross-purposes en · NOUN
Meanings
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(form-of, plural) plural of cross-purpose
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(dated, uncountable) A conversational game, in which questions and answers are made so as to involve ludicrous combinations of ideas.
I danced; and so till 12 at night, and to supper, and then to cross-purposes, mighty merry; and then to bed - my eyes being sore.
1667 January 4 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “December 26th, 1666”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume (please specify |volume=I to X), London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1893–1899, →OCLC:
Deriveds
at cross-purposes