across English · revision 3597

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=probably before 1200 (o cros)|origins=la crux}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /əˈkrɒs/, US /əˈkrɑːs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|acros]] (earlier [[m|enm|a-croiz]], [[m|enm|o cros]]), [[bor|xno|an cros|t=in the form of a cross]] or [[m|fro|en croiz]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) formed from [[m|fro|en|t=in, on]] and [[m|fro|croiz|t=cross]],^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|crux|t=cross]].^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) The French phrase was reshaped after native words beginning in [[a-]] and the noun [[cross]].^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the shape of a cross: ''o cros'', probably before 1200;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) “in a crossed position”, ''a-croiz'', about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “From one side to another” is from about 1325^(Barnhart 1988) or the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) The preposition is recorded in 1538 according to the Historical Thesaurus,^(HTOED) and in 1591, in Shakespeare's ''Henry VI'', according to Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) The sense “on the other side, as a result of crossing” is from 1750^(Etymonline) or 1816.^(OED 1989) In crossword clues it is used from 1924.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Get something across'', “make it understood”, is by 1913, probably from the theatre phrase ''get it across the footlights'',^(Etymonline) and ''come across'', “to hand over money or information”, is slang from 1910.^(OED 1989) ''Across the board'', “covering all categories”, is from 1945, said to come from betting on a horse to win, place and show.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – ''o cros'', crosswise.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – ''a-croiz'', crossed.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1325 – from one side to another.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1591 – preposition (Shakespeare).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1750 – on the other side.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1910 – ''come across'', to hand over.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1913 – ''get across''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1924 – in crossword clues.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1945 – ''across the board''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # On, at or from the other side of.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # From one side of something to the other.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Into contact with: ''came across an old friend''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # From one side to the other.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # On or to the opposite side.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Crosswise; crossed.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # So as to be understood or accepted: ''got the point across''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of a [[crossword]] clue, written horizontally.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[across-the-board]]

+ * [[come across]]

+ * [[get across]]

+ * [[put across]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cross]]

+ * [[crucial]]

+ * [[crusade]]

+ * [[athwart]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Etymonline notes the dialectal or nonstandard spelling ''acrost'', recorded by 1759,^(Etymonline) and Merriam-Webster gives the pronunciation with a final ''t'' as chiefly dialectal.^(MW Collegiate) In Yorkshire dialect ''across'' could mean “on bad terms”, and of time “about”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}