decussate
/dɪˈkʌseɪt/adjective, verb
decussate is spelled D-E-C-U-S-S-A-T-E: 9 letters. It appears about once in every 32 million words in written English, the 173,967th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, decussate means “Crossed; intersected; resembling a letter X” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in decussate?
| Letters | 9: D-E-C-U-S-S-A-T-E |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 32 million words; the 173,967th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is decussate?
Decussate appears about once in every 32 million words in written English, the 173,967th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce decussate?
- /dɪˈkʌseɪt/
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Forms of decussate
- more decussate comparative
- most decussate superlative
- decussates present, singular, he/she/it
- decussating participle, present
- decussated participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does decussate mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Crossed; intersected; resembling a letter X.
- 2
Having anatomical structures or markings crossing each other, typically in an X shape or at right angles.
- 3
Having opposite leaves arranged alternately at right angles.
- 4
Consisting of two rising and two falling clauses, placed in alternate opposition to each other.
a decussated period
verb
- 1
To form an X or to cross or intersect.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Decussate in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense crossed:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| Spanish | decusado |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does decussate come from?
The adjective is first attested in 1825, the verb in 1658. Borrowed from Latin decussātus, perfect passive participle of decussō (“to divide crosswise, arrange crosswise or mark with a cross”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from decussis (“a coin worth ten asses; a cross sign (from the cross shape of the Roman numeral for ten carved on the coins)”), from decem (“ten”) + as (“a Roman coin”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).