cross-purpose

See also: cross purpose

English

Alternative forms

• cross purpose

Etymology

Attested (in the plural form) since the 1660s, originally meaning ‘contradictory intentions.’

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

cross-purpose (plural cross-purposes)

1. (idiomatic) A contrary or conflicting purpose or understanding, especially an unintentional or misconceived one.

   We are working at cross-purposes here, if you're trying to reduce the count and I'm trying to increase it.

2. (dated) A conversational game, in which questions and answers are made so as to involve ludicrous combinations of ideas.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Samuel Pepys to this entry?)

Derived terms

• at cross-purposes

Translations

contrary purpose or understanding

• Finnish: ristiriita (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}