prep. & adv.
prep. 1 to or on the other side of (walked across the road; lives across the river). 2 from one side to another side of (the cover stretched across the opening; a bridge across the river). 3 at or forming an angle (esp. a right angle) with (deep cuts across his legs).
adv. 1 to or on the other side (ran across; shall soon be across). 2 from one side to another (a blanket stretched across). 3 forming a cross (with cuts across). 4 (of a crossword clue or answer) read horizontally (cannot do nine across). across the board general; generally; applying to all.
[ ME f. OF a croix, en croix, later regarded as f. A(2) + CROSS ]