| Title | dilemma |
|---|---|
| Text |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary di·lem·ma ETYMOLOGY Late Latin, from Late Greek dilēmmat-, dilēmma,probably back-formation from Greek dilēmmatos involving two assumptions, from di- + lēmmat-, lēmma assumption — more at lemma DATE 1523 1. an argument presenting two or more equally conclusive alternatives against an opponent 2. a. a usually undesirable or unpleasant choice faces this dilemma: raise interest rates and slow the economy or lower them and risk serious inflation b. a situation involving such a choice here am I brought to a very pretty dilemma; I must commit murder or commit matrimony — George Farquhar broadly : predicament lords and bailiffs were in a terrible dilemma — G. M. Trevelyan 3. a. a problem involving a difficult choice the dilemma of “liberty versus order” — J. M. Burns b. a difficult or persistent problem unemployment…the great central dilemma of our advancing technology — August Heckscher Usage. Although some commentators insist that dilemma be restricted to instances in which the alternatives to be chosen are equally unsatisfactory, their concern is misplaced; the unsatisfactoriness of the options is usually a matter of how the author presents them. What is distressing or painful about a dilemma is having to make a choice one does not want to make. The use of such adjectives as terrible, painful, and irreconcilable suggests that dilemma is losing some of its unpleasant force. There also seems to be a tendency especially in sense 3b toward applying the word to less weighty problems solved their goaltending dilemma — Pat Calabria English Etymology dilemma 1520s, from L.L. dilemma, from Gk. dilemma "double proposition," a technical term in rhetoric, from di- "two" + lemma"premise, anything received or taken," from root of lambanein "to take" (see analemma). It should be used only of situations where someone is forced to choose between two alternatives, both unfavorable to him. But even logicians disagree on whether certain situations are dilemmas or mere syllogisms. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 dilemma di·lemma / di5lemE; dai- / noun a situation which makes problems, often six in which you have to make a very difficult choice between things of equal importance (进退两难的)窘境,困境 SYN predicament :
to face a dilemma 面临左右为难的困境 to be in a dilemma 处于进退两难的境地 IDIOMS ⇨ see horn Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English dilemma noun ADJ. acute, appalling, big, difficult, genuine, great, impossible, real, serious, terrible, thorny | central, essential, fundamental The fundamental dilemma remains: in a tolerant society, should we tolerate intolerance? | familiar, perennial | human | personal | ethical, moral | policy, political VERB + DILEMMA create, pose This poses a difficult dilemma for teachers. | be caught in, be faced with, confront, face, have They were caught in a real dilemma. | resolve, solve I could see no way of resolving this moral dilemma. DILEMMA + VERB arise, occur, present itself the dilemma that arises when a doctor has to decide whether or not to prescribe an expensive treatment | lie The dilemma over human cloning lies at the heart of the ethical choices facing society. | confront sb, face sb The dilemma facing the country's allies was even more serious. | remain PREP. in a/the ~ The minister is now in an impossible dilemma. | ~ about/over She faced a dilemma about whether to accept the offer or not. | ~ between the perennial dilemma between getting on at work and fulfilling family commitments PHRASES a solution to a dilemma, a way out of a dilemma I couldn't see any way out of the dilemma. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition n. Function: noun Synonyms: PREDICAMENT , box, corner, fix, hole, jam, pickle, plight, scrape, spot Related Words: bewilderment, mystification, perplexity Idioms: horns of a dilemma Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged di·lem·ma I. \də̇ˈlemə sometimes dīˈ-\ noun (-s) Etymology: Late Latin, from Late Greek dilēmmat-, dilēmma, probably back-formation from Greek dilēmmatos involving two assumptions, from di- + -lēmmatos (from lēmmat-, lēmma assumption) — more at lemma 1. : an argument that offers an opponent a choice between two or more alternatives but that is equally conclusive against him no matter which alternative he chooses 2. a. : a choice or a situation involving choice between equally unsatisfactory alternatives < the dilemma was whether to lower prices or to accept fewer sales > b. : a difficult problem : a problem seemingly incapable of a satisfactory solution < the modern dilemma; what to do to spend all this time — Peggy Bennett > 3. : an argument that contains a premise consisting of the conjunctive affirmation of two hypothetical propositions and a disjunctive premise Synonyms: see predicament II. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) archaic : to place in a dilemma |
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: to main verb of turn synonyms digress subject
Previous card: to diminish verb from of synonyms lessen make
Up to card list: English learning