Difficulty Definition
dĭfĭ-kŭltē, -kəl-
difficulties
noun
difficulties
The condition or fact of being difficult.
Webster's New World
Something not easily done, accomplished, comprehended, or solved.
We face a difficulty that requires unconventional thinking.
American Heritage
Something that is difficult, as a hard problem or an obstacle or objection.
Webster's New World
A troublesome or embarrassing state of affairs, especially of financial affairs.
Lost his job and found himself in difficulties.
American Heritage
Trouble, distress, etc., or a cause of this.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
idiom
in difficulties
- in distress, esp. financially
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Difficulty
- in difficulties
Origin of Difficulty
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From Middle English difficultee, from Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile and difficult.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English difficulte from Old French dificulte from Latin difficultās from difficilis difficult dis- dis- facilis easy dhē- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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