dilemma

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Derived terms 1.3.4 Related terms 1.3.5 Translations 1.4 See also 1.5 Anagrams 2 Dutch 2.1 Noun 3 Finnish 3.1 Pronunciation 3.2 Noun 3.2.1 Declension 4 Italian 4.1 Etymology 4.2 Noun 4.2.1 Related terms 4.2.2 References

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

First attested 1523, from Late Latin dilemma, from Ancient Greek δίλήμμα (dilémma), “‘double proposition’”), from δι (di) + λήμμα (lḗmma), “‘premise, proposition’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: dī-lĕmʹə or dĭ-lĕmʹə, IPA: /daɪˈlɛmə/, /dɪˈlɛmə/, SAMPA: /daI"lEm@/, /dI"lEm@/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɛmə

[edit] Noun

dilemma (plural dilemmas)

1. A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.
2. (disputed) A difficult circumstance or problem.
3. (logic) A type of syllogism of the form "if A is true then B is true; if C is true then D is true; either A or C is true; therefore either B or D is true".

[edit] Usage notes

• The sense of a difficult circumstance or problem is considered non-standard[by whom?].

[edit] Synonyms

• (circumstance in which a choice must be made between two alternatives):
• (difficult circumstance): bind, fix, pickle, problem, quandary
• (in logic):

[edit] Derived terms

• on the horns of a dilemma

[edit] Related terms

• lemma
• trilemma

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• Wikisaurus:dilemma
• between a rock and a hard place
• between the devil and the deep blue sea
• between Scylla and Charybdis
• Buridan's ass

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: adeilmm
• midmeal

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[edit] Dutch

[edit] Noun

dilemma n. (plural dilemma's, diminutive dilemaatje, diminutive plural dilemaatjes)

1. dilemma (between two alternatives)

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[edit] Finnish

(index d)

Wikipedia ^fi

[edit] Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: di‧lem‧ma

[edit] Noun

dilemma

1. dilemma (between two alternatives)

[edit] Declension

Declension of dilemma (type kala) singular plural nominative dilemma dilemmat genitive dilemman dilemmojen dilemmain1 partitive dilemmaa dilemmoja accusative dilemma dilemman dilemmat inessive dilemmassa dilemmoissa elative dilemmasta dilemmoista illative dilemmaan dilemmoihin adessive dilemmalla dilemmoilla ablative dilemmalta dilemmoilta allative dilemmalle dilemmoille essive dilemmana dilemmoina translative dilemmaksi dilemmoiksi instructive – dilemmoin abessive dilemmatta dilemmoitta comitative – dilemmoineen 1) Rare.

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[edit] Italian

[edit] Etymology

From Ancient Greek δίλήμμα (dilēmma).^[1]

[edit] Noun

dilemma m. (plural dilemmi)

1. dilemma (between two alternatives)

[edit] Related terms

• dilemmatico

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ^ “dilèmma” listed in Dizionario Etimologico Online