see|Dilemma
English
Etymology
First attested 1523, from LL. dilemma#Late Latin|dilemma, from Ancient Gr. δίλήμμα (dilémma), "double proposition", from δι (di) + (lémma), premise, proposition
Pronunciation
AHD|dÄ«-lÄ�mʹÉ� or dÄ-lÄ�mʹÉ�, IPA|/daɪË�lÉ�mÉ�/ or /dɪË�lÉ�mÉ�/, SAMPA|/daI"lEm@/ or /dI"lEm@/
audio|en-us-dilemma.ogg|Audio (US)
Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-�m�|-�m�
Noun
en-noun
- A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two alternatives that seem equally undesirable.
- (disputed) A difficult circumstance or problem.
- logic A type of syllogism of the form "if A is true then B is true; if C is true then D is true; either A or C is true; therefore either B or D is true".
Usage notes
The original meaning of this term is a choice between two alternatives only, by dint of its etymology. While some speakers and writers use the term as a synonym for "problem", this usage is considered nonstandard, and is avoided by careful users.
Synonyms
(circumstance in which a choice must be made between two alternatives):
(difficult circumstance): bind, fix, pickle, problem, quandary
(in logic):
Derived terms
on the horns of a dilemma
Related terms
lemma
trilemma
Translations
trans-top|circumstance in which a choice must be made between two alternatives
Czech: dilema n
French: dilemme m
German: Dilemma n
Ido: dilemo
Malayalam: ധര��മ�മസ����� (dharma sankatam)
Slovak: dilema f
trans-mid
Swedish: dilemma#Swedish|dilemma n
Telugu: వి�ి�ిత�స (vichikitsa)
Spanish: dilema n
trans-bottom
trans-top|difficult circumstance
trans-mid
trans-bottom
trans-top|in logic
trans-mid
trans-bottom
See also
between a rock and a hard place
between the devil and the deep blue sea
between Scylla and Charybdis
Buridan's ass
Italian
Noun
it-noun|dilemm|m|a|i
- dilemma#English|dilemma (between two alternatives)
Related terms
dilemmatico
Category:Italian nouns with irregular gender
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