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dilemma

[dih-lem-uh]

noun

a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.

any difficult or perplexing situation or problem.

Logic. a form of syllogism in which the major premise is formed of two or more hypothetical propositions and the minor premise is a disjunctive proposition, as “If A, then B; if C then D. Either A or C. Therefore, either B or D.”

Origin:
1515–25; < Late Latin < Greek dílēmma, equivalent to di- di-¹ + lêmma an assumption, premise, derivative of lambánein to take

Related forms

dil·em·mat·ic

[dil-uh-mat-ik] , dil·em·mat·i·cal, di·lem·mic, adjective

dil·em·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms
1. See predicament. 2. question, difficulty.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Dilemma is always a great word to know.

So is bezoar. Does it mean:

a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.

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Example Sentences

I'm pretty new and want to really delve into this game but I have a dilemma.

Sometimes it takes a small, focused company to solve a vexing design dilemma.

So we are still facing the dilemma.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

dilemma (dɪˈlɛmə, daɪ-)

—n
1.	a situation necessitating a choice between two equal, esp equally undesirable, alternatives
2.	a problem that seems incapable of a solution
3.	logic a form of argument one of whose premises is the conjunction of two conditional statements and the other of which affirms the disjunction of their antecedents, and whose conclusion is the disjunction of their consequents. Its form is if p then q and if r then s; either p or r so either q or s
4.	on the horns of a dilemma
	a. faced with the choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives
	b. in an awkward situation

[C16: via Latin from Greek, from di-¹ + lēmma assumption, proposition, from lambanein to take, grasp]

usage The use of dilemma to refer to a problem that seems incapable of a solution is considered by some people to be incorrect

dilemmatic

—*adj*

dil'emmic

—*adj*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

dilemma

1520s, from L.L. dilemma, from Gk. dilemma "double proposition," a technical term in rhetoric, from di- "two" + lemma "premise, anything received or taken," from root of lambanein "to take" (see analemma). It should be used only of situations where someone is forced to

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choose between two alternatives, both unfavorable to him. But even logicians disagree on whether certain situations are dilemmas or mere syllogisms.

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American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

dilemma

see horns of a dilemma.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia

dilemma

in syllogistic, or traditional, logic, any one of several forms of inference in which there are two major premises of hypothetical form and a disjunctive ("either . . . or") minor premise. For example:

Learn more about dilemma with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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dilemma

di·lem·ma