quandary
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
16th century. Origin unknown; perhaps a dialectal corruption (simulating a word of Latin origin with suffix -ary) of wandreth (“‘evil, plight, peril, adversity, difficulty’”) < Middle English wandreth < Old Norse vandræði (“‘difficulty, trouble’”) < vandr (“‘difficult, requiring pains and care’”).[1][2]
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
quandary (plural quandaries)
- A state of not knowing what to decide; a state of difficulty or perplexity; a state of uncertainty, hesitation or puzzlement; a pickle; a predicament.
- A dilemma, a difficult decision or choice.
- 1995, Douglas N. Walton & Erik C. W. Krabbe, Commitment in Dialogue: Basic Concepts of Interpersonal Reasoning, page 54
- But we may suppose that John has set his priorities in such a way that the quandary is spurious.
- 2000, Carol Ann Strip & Gretchen Hirsch, Helping Gifted Children Soar, page 208
- What a difficult quandary for a bright, talented child!
- 2004, Jennifer Traig, Devil in the Details: Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood, page 181
- Then I would begin contemplating the next quandary: "Does the Torah say it's okay to portray a hooker, and is a heart of gold a mitigating factor?"
- 1995, Douglas N. Walton & Erik C. W. Krabbe, Commitment in Dialogue: Basic Concepts of Interpersonal Reasoning, page 54
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Translations
A state of not knowing what to decide
[edit] References
- Notes:
- ^ quandary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- ^ quandary in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- quandary at OneLook® Dictionary Search