cross-grained, a.
(ˈkrɒsgreɪnd, ˈkrɔːs-)
[Parasynthetic deriv. of prec.]
1. Of wood: Having the grain or fibre arranged in crossing directions, or irregularly, instead of running straight longitudinally.
| 1673–4 Grew Anat. Plants iii. ii. vii. §5 Elm..is the most Cross-grain'd Timber: that is, cleaveth so unevenly..according to the cross Position of the said Vessels. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 110 Stuff is Cross-grain'd when a..Branch shoots out on that part of the Tree; For the..Grain of that branch..runs a-cross the Grain of the Trunk. 1873 J. Richards Wood-working Factories 104 Knives for working hard or cross-grained lumber. |
2. fig. Of opposed nature or temper; given to opposition, contrarious; difficult to deal with, intractable; perverse, refractory, queer-tempered. (Said of persons and things.)
| 1647 Case Kingd. 16 So cross-grain'd to all Novelty. 1652 Wharton Rothomanne's Chirom. Ded., The many Discouragements and Cross-grain'd Events I have Laboured under. 1773 Goldsm. Stoops to Conq. 111, Was there ever such a cross-grain'd brute, that won't hear me? 1850 Trollope Impress. of Wand. xiii. 204 He would think you a pestilent, cross-grained fellow. 1883 Stevenson Treasure Isl. v. xxiii. (1886) 184 She [the boat] was the most cross-grained lop-sided craft to manage. |
3. advb. Across the grain. (lit. and fig.)
| 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 69 Working still Cross-grain'd. 1825 Lamb Elia, Convalescent, Things went cross-grained in the Court yesterday. |
Hence cross-ˈgrainedness.
| 1652 Wadsworth tr. Sandoval's Civ. Wars Spain 273 By reason of the pervers Cross-grainedness of those of the Junta. 1673 S. Dugard Marriages Cousin Germ. 65 The ill nature of the Wife, or the Cross-graindnesse of the Husband. a 1734 North Lives III. 279 A fanatic, whereof the composition was crossgrainedness, ambition, and malice. 1867 Trollope Chron. Barset II. lviii. 154 She..could only lament..over..the cross-grainedness of men. |