browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
more about difficulty
difficulty |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Difficulty \Dif"fi*cul*ty\, n.; pl {Difficulties}. [L. difficultas fr difficilis difficult; dif- = dis- + facilis easy: cf F. difficult['e]. See {Facile}.] 1. The state of being difficult, or hard to do hardness; arduousness; -- opposed to {easiness} or {facility}; as the difficulty of a task or enterprise; a work of difficulty. Not being able to promote them [the interests of life] on account of the difficulty of the region. --James Byrne. 2. Something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill and perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment; as the difficulties of a science; difficulties in theology. They lie under some difficulties by reason of the emperor's displeasure. --Addison. 3. A controversy; a falling out a disagreement; an objection; a cavil. Measures for terminating all local difficulties. --Bancroft. 4. Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; -- usually in the plural; as to be in difficulties. In days of difficulty and pressure. --Tennyson. Syn: Impediment; obstacle; obstruction; embarrassment; perplexity; exigency; distress; trouble; trial; objection; cavil. See {Impediment}. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: difficulty n 1: an effort that is inconvenient; "I went to a lot of trouble"; "he won without any trouble"; "had difficulty walking"; "finished the test only with great difficulty" [syn: {trouble}] 2: a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result; "serious difficulties were encountered in obtaining a pure reagent" 3: a situation or condition almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome: "grappling with financial difficulties" 4: the quality of being difficult; "they agreed about the difficulty of the climb" [syn: {difficultness}] [ant: {ease}]
more about difficulty
This work is licensed under a
