Having an irregular gnarled grain or fiber, as timber.

Hence Perverse; untractable; crabbed; refractory.

adjective. Having the grain or fibers run diagonally, or more or less transversely and irregularly, so as to interfere with splitting or planing.

adjective. Perverse; untractable; contrary; difficult to deal with.

adjective. Alternative form of cross-grained.

adjective. of timber; having fibers running irregularly rather than in parallel

adjective. difficult to deal with

"What crossgrained fiend has at once inspired you with what I suppose you wish me to call politic doubts and scruples of conscience, but which I can only regard as symptoms of fear and disaffection?"

obstinate  stubborn  uneven  unregenerate  

acerbic  cantankerous  crotchety  curmudgeonly  discourteous  

balky  balky, contrarious  contrarious  contrary  perverse