1. A way or road crossing another, or leading across from one main road to another; a by-way.
a. 1490. Botoner, Itin. (1778), 176. At the crosse yn Baldwyne strete been IIII crosse wayes metyng.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxi. 247. We came too a crosse way.
1625–8. trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., II. (1688), 241. The Paths and Cross-ways whereof are scarce known to the Dwellers thereabouts.
1708. Motteux, Rabelais, V. xxvi. (1737), 114. Highways, Crossways, and Byways.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1863), 46. The little greens formed by the meeting of these cross-ways.
fig. 1628. Gaule, Pract. Th., To Rdr. A x. If thou stop, and stumble at the Crosse-wayes of Mysterie.
1720. Welton, Suffer. Son of God, I. x. 264. Into a many Deviations, and Cross-ways to sin.
† b. allusively. The way of ‘crosses’ or afflictions. Obs. [CROSS- 3.]
c. 1450. trans. T. à Kempis’ Imit., II. xii. 57. Hov sekist þou a noþer way þan þe kynges hye way, þe crosse wey? All cristys lif was a crosse & a martirdom.
2. The place where roads cross; = CROSS-ROAD 2.
15[?]. Knt. of Curtesy, 386. And burie my body in the crosse waie.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 383. Damned spirits … That in crosse-waies and flouds haue buriall.
1625. K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, I. i. 4. On the crosse-way issued forth five theeves.
1755. Smollett, Quix. (1803), I. 37. His imagination suggested those cross-ways that were wont to perplex knights-errant in their choice.
1866. Kingsley, Herew., I. xix. 349. He rode … past the cross-ways.
attrib. 1640. H. Mill, Nights Search, 79. For this cause [suicide] a Crosse-way grave … Is made for her.
