decussate

de·cus·sate

[v. dih-kuhs-eyt, dek-uh-seyt; adj. dih-kuhs-eyt, -it] verb, de·cus·sat·ed, de·cus·sat·ing, adjective
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1.
to cross in the form of an X ; intersect.
adjective
2.
in the form of an X ; crossed; intersected.
3.
Botany. arranged along the stem in pairs, each pair at right angles to the pair next above or below, as leaves.

Origin:
1650–60; < Medieval Latin decussātus divided in the form of an X (past participle of decussāre), equivalent to Latin decuss(is) the numeral ten, orig., a ten-as weight (dec(em) ten + -ussis, combining form of as as2) + -ātus -ate1

de·cus·sate·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Decussate is always a great word to know.
So is sporophyte. Does it mean:
form of a diploid plant in the alternation of generations that produces asexual spores
organism with having only one complete set of chromosomes
Collins
World English Dictionary
decussate
 
vb
1.  to cross or cause to cross in the form of the letter X; intersect
 
adj
2.  in the form of the letter X; crossed; intersected
3.  botany (esp of leaves) arranged in opposite pairs, with each pair at right angles to the one above and below it
 
[C17: from Latin decussāre, from decussis the number ten, from decem ten]
 
de'cussately
 
adv
 
decus'sation
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

decussate
1650s, from L. decussat-, pp. stem of decussare "to cross in the form of an 'X,'" from decussis "the figure 'ten'" (in Roman numerals, represented by X) from decem "ten."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

decussate de·cus·sate (dĭ-kŭs'āt', děk'ə-sāt')
v. de·cus·sat·ed, de·cus·sat·ing, de·cus·sates
To cross or become crossed so as to form an X; intersect. adj.
Intersected or crossed in the form of an X.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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