[f. CROSS a. + -NESS.]
1. The state or quality of being cross, transverse or athwart; ‘transverseness, intersection’ (J.).
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xxiii. 107. To keep them [laws] from being … too ful of multiplicitie and crossnesse.
1750. Walpole, Lett. G. Montagu (1891), II. 211. Lord Petersham, with his hose and legs twisted to every point of crossness.
2. The state of being contrary or opposed; opposition, adverseness.
1641. Disc. Pr. Henry, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), III. 525. Through any crossness of cards or chance.
1674. Hickman, Hist. Quinquart. (ed. 2), 171. Let us see whether there be any such crossness or no.
1736. Carte, Ormonde, II. 449. There being besides crossness of interests, some private piques between the Prince and him.
b. of the wind: cf. CROSS a. 1 c.
1646. Ld. Digby, Lett., in Carte, Ormonde (1735), III. 456. The crossness of the winds to the shipping which they expected.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., XII. (1704), III. 251. That the crossness of the Wind only hinder’d the arrival of those Supplies.
3. a. Disposition to oppose or be contrary; perverse tendency, disposition or temper.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, II. iii. 184. She will die if hee wooe her, rather than shee will bate one breath of her accustomed crossenesse.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1716, I. 7. A peevish crossness and obstinate repugnancy to received laws.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), II. 372. The scoffer and caviller move as much by impulse of vanity as crossness.
b. Peevishness, ill-humor.
1741. Richardson, Pamela, I. 61. I am vex’d his Crossness affects me so.
1823. Lamb, Elia (1860), 160. I missed his kindness, and I missed his crossness, and wished him to be alive again.
1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Mrs. Hallib., I. v. 28. I beg your pardon for my crossness, but you put me out of temper.
