star-crossed

Alternative forms

• starcrossed, star-cross

Etymology

From star +‎ crossed. Coined by William Shakespeare in 1597 in Romeo and Juliet, see quotations.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈstɑːˌkɹɒst/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈstɑɹˌkɹɔst/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈstɑɹˌkɹɑst/

Adjective

star-crossed (comparative more star-crossed, superlative most star-crossed)

1. (idiomatic) Ill-fated by destiny, the fate of the person being “written in the stars”.

   Synonyms: ill-starred; see also Thesaurus:ominous

   The star-crossed lovers looked into each other's eyes, before dying.

   • c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], “The Prologue”, in […] Romeo and Juliet. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, published 1597, →OCLC:

     From forth the fatall loynes of theſe two foes, / A paire of ſtarre-crost Louers tooke their life:

   • 1636, Philip Massinger, The Great Duke of Florence‎, act V, scene iii:

     But now, such is my star-cross'd destiny, / When he beholds you as you are, I may / As well entreat him give away his crown, / As to part from a jewel of more value.

   • 1919 [1914], Compton Mackenzie, Sinister Street‎, volume 2:

     For a few moments he sat dazed, visualizing that dreadful waste near New Orleans where in the sand it was so easy for the star-crossed Chevalier to bury the idol of his heart.

   • 2009 March 20, Adam Rittenberg, “Spartans overpower Robert Morris”, in ESPN‎:

     After a star-crossed regular season, Morgan vowed Thursday to show the college hoops world what it has been missing.

Anagrams

• cross-trades