double-cross
UK[ˌdʌb.əlˈkrɒs]US[ˌdʌb.əlˈkrɔːs]
v
To cheat or betray someone, especially after having promised to help them.
n
An act of cheating or betraying someone.
Morpheme Breakdown
double
cross
double
cross
Etymology
The term 'double-cross' originated in the early 19th century from the argot of prize-fighting and the criminal underworld. Its logic stems from the earlier term 'to cross', meaning to cheat or defraud. The addition of 'double' intensifies the betrayal, implying a second, deeper level of deception where one pretends to be betraying a third party while actually betraying the original confederate. Thus, the literal sense of 'a twofold act of thwarting' evolved into the modern abstract meaning of a complex, premeditated betrayal of trust.
Analysis
Structure: double + cross
- double: From Latin duplus (twofold, double). In this compound, it functions as an intensifier, implying a heightened or more complex form of deceit.
- cross: From Latin crux (cross, torture stake). In this compound, it functions metaphorically to mean 'to thwart, to go against, to betray'.
Examples
He felt devastated when his business partner double-crossed him in the deal.
The spy novel revolves around a complex double-cross that leaves no one trustworthy.
They had a plan, but she double-crossed them and took the money for herself.