Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Transverseness; intersection.
  • noun Peevishness; fretfulness; ill humor; perverseness.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The quality or state of being cross; peevishness; fretfulness; ill humor.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of being cross; mild anger

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an irritable petulant feeling
  • noun a disposition to be ill-tempered

Etymologies

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Examples

  • She thought her crossness was the cause of the princess's unhappiness, and had no idea that she was really and deeply hurt at not being believed.

    The Princess and the Goblin George MacDonald 1864

  • It resulted that on Monday morning they were nervous and impatient, alternating between fits of giggling delight in the interchange of fond reminiscences, and the crossness which is pretty sure to disfigure human behavior from want of sleep.

    A Modern Instance William Dean Howells 1878

  • We know that a long period of gloomy weather leads to suicides, and we observe that long-continued clouds and rain beget "crossness" and ill-temper, and we are all familiar with the universal exhilaration of sunshine and clear air upon any company of men and women.

    As We Go Charles Dudley Warner 1864

  • We know that a long period of gloomy weather leads to suicides, and we observe that long-continued clouds and rain beget "crossness" and ill-temper, and we are all familiar with the universal exhilaration of sunshine and clear air upon any company of men and women.

    The Complete Project Gutenberg Writings of Charles Dudley Warner Charles Dudley Warner 1864

  • We know that a long period of gloomy weather leads to suicides, and we observe that long-continued clouds and rain beget "crossness" and ill-temper, and we are all familiar with the universal exhilaration of sunshine and clear air upon any company of men and women.

    Complete Essays Charles Dudley Warner 1864

  • Mrs. Crump was a little cross sometimes; for there is a good kind of crossness that is only disagreeable, and there is a bad kind of crossness that is very nasty indeed.

    At the Back of the North Wind George MacDonald 1864

  • Then the pleasant little surprises of all kinds that we imagined; and the pleasant looks that greet us when we condescend to accept them; the patience that can translate our most unwarrantable "crossness", because there has been some trifling difficulty in obtaining the half of a star or the corner of a moon which it had pleased us to require, into "such a good sign of being really better"; and then our appetite (which the gods know is at that season singularly keen), how is it not tempted with unutterable dainties and friande morsels, all sorts of amateur cookery in our behalf, where Love himself has not disdained to turn the spit, and look into the stewpan! and all served up so gracefully on the small tray, covered with its delicate white damask cloth, arraying with more than mortal charms the moulds of crystal jelly and pure-looking blanc mange!

    Zoe: The History of Two Lives 1845

  • As the car swept away, with Brown in the back seat, he exploded in crossness to his aides, calling the encounter "ridiculous" and a "disaster."

    Prime Minister Makes Old Granny Cry! 2010

  • As the car swept away, with Brown in the back seat, he exploded in crossness to his aides, calling the encounter "ridiculous" and a "disaster."

    Prime Minister Makes Old Granny Cry! 2010

  • Sean simply hadn't understood, because of his crossness.

    Archive 2009-01-01 Bystander 2009

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