difficult

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 External links

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From difficulty < Middle English difficultee < Old French difficulte < Latin difficultas < difficul, older form of difficilis (“‘hard to do, difficult’”) < dis- + facilis (“‘easy’”); see difficile.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdɪfɪkʊlt/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

difficult (comparative more difficult, superlative most difficult)

1. hard, not easy, requiring much effort

[edit] Usage notes

Difficult implies the notion that considerable mental effort or skill is required, or that obstacles are to be overcome which call for sagacity and skill in the agent; as, a difficult task; hard work is not always difficult work; a difficult operation in surgery; a difficult passage in an author.

[edit] Synonyms

• burdensome, cumbersome, hard
• See also Wikisaurus:difficult

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• difficult in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• difficult in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911