Nearby Words
noun
1.
a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.
2.
any difficult or perplexing situation or problem.
3.
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
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·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Dilemmas
is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
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
EXPAND choose between two alternatives, both unfavorable to him. But even logicians disagree on whether certain situations are dilemmas or mere syllogisms.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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