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prettygoodworddecussate - v., to cross in the form of an X, intersect. adj., in the form of an X, crossed, intersected.
And what, you might ask, does it mean to cussate such that to de-cussate means to cross? Except, that's a misparsing. From Medieval Latin, from the past participle of decussāre, from Latin decussis, the numeral ten (which is of course written as X) but originally a unit of weight, from dec(em), ten + -ussis, the combinative form of as, a unit of weight equal to 12 ounces (as well as a copper coin nominally that weight). In use in English since the 1650s. Pronounced both DEK-uh-sayt and deh-KUS-ayt, and as dictionaries disagree as to which is primary, you get to take your pick.
---L.
And what, you might ask, does it mean to cussate such that to de-cussate means to cross? Except, that's a misparsing. From Medieval Latin, from the past participle of decussāre, from Latin decussis, the numeral ten (which is of course written as X) but originally a unit of weight, from dec(em), ten + -ussis, the combinative form of as, a unit of weight equal to 12 ounces (as well as a copper coin nominally that weight). In use in English since the 1650s. Pronounced both DEK-uh-sayt and deh-KUS-ayt, and as dictionaries disagree as to which is primary, you get to take your pick.
---L.
