decussate

American  

[dih-kuhs-eyt, -it, dih-kuhs-eyt, dek-uh-seyt] / dɪˈkʌs eɪt, -ɪt, dɪˈkʌs eɪt, ˈdɛk əˌseɪt /

adjective

1. in the form of an X ; crossed; intersected.

2. Botany. arranged along the stem in pairs, each pair at right angles to the pair next above or below, as leaves.

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verb (used without object)

decussated, decussating

1. to intersect; cross in the form of an X .

   About 75 percent of these nerve fibers decussate in the medulla.

decussate British  

verb

1. to cross or cause to cross in the form of the letter X; intersect

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adjective

1. in the form of the letter X; crossed; intersected

2. botany (esp of leaves) arranged in opposite pairs, with each pair at right angles to the one above and below it

Other Word Forms

• decussately adverb
• decussation noun

Etymology

Origin of decussate

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin decussātus “divided in the form of an X” (past participle of decussāre ), equivalent to Latin decuss(is) “the numeral ten,” originally, “a ten-as weight,” supposedly from unrecorded dec(-em) assis ); ten, as ², -ate ¹

Related Words

• cross
• cut across