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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Crossgrained \Cross"grained\ (-gr?nd'), adjective
1. Having the grain or fibers run diagonally, or more or less transversely and irregularly, so as to interfere with splitting or planing.
If the stuff proves crossgrained, . . . then you must turn your stuff to plane it the contrary way. --Moxon.
2. Perverse; untractable; contrary; difficult to deal with.
Syn: balky, contrarious. [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
She was none of your crossgrained, termagant, scolding jades. --Arbuthnot.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
cross-grained
adjective
1: difficult to deal with [syn: {contrarious}]
2: of timber; having fibers running irregularly rather than in parallel
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |