cross-purpose

noun

Etymology

Attested (in the plural form) since the 1660s, originally meaning ‘contradictory intentions.’

Definitions

  1. A contrary or conflicting purpose or understanding, especially an unintentional or…

    A contrary or conflicting purpose or understanding, especially an unintentional or misconceived one.

    • We are working at cross-purposes here, if you're trying to reduce the count and I'm trying to increase it.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for cross-purpose. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA