A place where two roads cross each other, or a critical point where an important decision must be made.
Compound of 'cross' (from Old Norse) and 'road' (from Old English 'rad' meaning journey). The literal meaning came first; the metaphorical meaning of a crucial decision point developed later.
In folklore, crossroads were thought to be magical or dangerous places—which is why so many legends feature devils making deals with people at crossroads, making the word naturally fit 'critical choice.'
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