The Latest Word: Dilemma
Definition
A dilemma is defined equally a province of affairs involving ii or to a greater extent than differing options. The pick betwixt the ii is hard in addition to virtually oftentimes undesirable.
In a to a greater extent than full general sense, it is used equally a synonym for the discussion "problem" or "difficult situation".
Origins
It comes from the Ancient Greek discussion "δίλημμα". The discussion itself is made upwards of ii parts:
- di: which is a prefix pregnant "having ii of"
- in Latin "di" became "bi" in addition to is instantly purpose of many words such equally bifocal, bipolar, binary
- lemma: proposition
- in formal logic, it is considered a truthful proffer used inwards a syllogism inwards lodge to validate the truth of an inference
Synonyms
impasse, plight, predicament, quandary, difficulty, problem
less formally: fix, jam, pickle, Catch-22, bind, tight corner
Phrases expressing dilemmas
- between Scylla in addition to Charybdis (the ii monsters inwards Homer's The Odyssey Odysseus had to appear in addition to guide betwixt equally he was making his agency dorsum to Ithaca. He opted for Scylla, a six-headed ocean monster that killed vi of his crew, rather than Charybdis, a whirlpool that would engulf his entire ship)
- between a stone in addition to a hard place
- between the devil in addition to the deep blueish sea
- out of the frying pan into the fire (also the championship of J.R.R. Tolkien's 6th chapter from The Hobbit)
Other phrases
We tell "I'm on the horns of a dilemma" to hateful that I am struggling alongside a hard conclusion where I accept to guide betwixt ii unappealing options.