difficulty

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English difficulte, from Middle French and Anglo-Norman difficulte and their etymon Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile and difficult. Equivalent to dis- +‎ facile +‎ -ty. Also analysable as difficult +‎ -y, though the adjective is historically a backformation from the noun. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈdɪfɪkəlti/ === Noun === difficulty (countable and uncountable, plural difficulties) The state of being difficult, or hard to do. An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal. Synonym: trouble (sometimes in the plural) Physical danger from the environment, especially with risk of drowning 2012 August 2, "Children rescued after getting into difficulties in Donegal" BBC Online An objection. That which cannot be easily understood or believed. An awkward situation or quarrel. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== difficile difficult ==== Translations ==== ==== Further reading ==== “difficulty”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “difficulty”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.