cross swords

sword

C c

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [sawrd, sohrd]
- /sɔrd, soʊrd/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [sawrd, sohrd]
- /sɔrd, soʊrd/

Definitions of cross swords words

noun cross swords to argue or fight 3
noun cross swords to fight 3
noun cross swords to argue violently 3
noun cross swords a weapon having various forms but consisting typically of a long, straight or slightly curved blade, sharp-edged on one or both sides, with one end pointed and the other fixed in a hilt or handle. 1
noun cross swords this weapon as the symbol of military power, punitive justice, authority, etc.: The pen is mightier than the sword. 1
noun cross swords a cause of death or destruction. 1

See all 15 definitions of cross swords

Information block about the term

Origin of cross swords

First appearance:

before 900

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 900; Middle English; Old English sweord; cognate with Dutch zwaard, German Schwert, Old Norse sverth

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Cross swords

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Cross swords

cross swords popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 98% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

cross swords usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for cross swords

verb cross swords

brawl — A brawl is a rough or violent fight.
contend — If you have to contend with a problem or difficulty, you have to deal with it or overcome it.
fight — a battle or combat.
lock horns — a device for securing a door, gate, lid, drawer, or the like in position when closed, consisting of a bolt or system of bolts propelled and withdrawn by a mechanism operated by a key, dial, etc.
quarrel — a square-headed bolt or arrow, formerly used with a crossbow.

All 7 Synonyms of cross swords