The spelling of the word "difficulty" can be a bit of a challenge, but it is not impossible to master. The word is spelled with a "c" and not a "s" because it comes from the Latin root "difficultas." Interestingly, the "c" is pronounced like a "k" due to the position of the letter in the word. The IPA phonetic transcription for "difficulty" is /ˈdɪfɪkəlti/, where the "k" sound is represented by the symbol /k/ and the vowels are pronounced as "ih" and "ee".
Difficulty is a noun that refers to the state or condition of being hard, arduous, or challenging. It describes the level of complexity or trouble that is encountered while trying to accomplish a task or achieve a goal. It involves encountering obstacles, complications, or problems that hinder progress or require extra effort to overcome.
Difficulties can manifest in various forms, such as physical, mental, emotional, or situational barriers. Physical difficulties might arise from limitations in strength, agility, or natural resources, impeding the completion of an action. Mental difficulties involve cognitive challenges, including complex problem-solving, mastering intricate concepts, or acquiring new skills. Emotional difficulties pertain to the feelings and emotions that can obstruct decision-making or hinder effective functioning.
Difficulties can also arise from specific circumstances or situations. For instance, financial difficulties relate to challenges related to money, such as budgeting, debt management, or economic instability. Similarly, personal difficulties encompass struggles in relationships, self-esteem, or personal development.
The term "difficulty" conveys the sense of something not being easily achievable or straightforward. It implies that extra effort, perseverance, or specialized knowledge may be required to overcome the challenges encountered. The level of difficulty associated with a task can vary, from being mildly challenging to extremely daunting.
Difficulties can be subjective and vary from person to person, depending on individual skills, experiences, and circumstances. Consequently, what might be perceived as difficult for one person might not be the same for another. Handling difficulties often requires resilience, problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and determination in order to successfully navigate through obstacles and achieve desired outcomes.
That which is hard to be done; an obstacle; perplexity; distress.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "difficulty" has Latin origins. It is derived from the Latin word "difficultas", which can be further broken down into two parts: "dis-" meaning "apart" or "un-" and "facilis" meaning "easy". Therefore, the combination of these two elements in Latin gives us "difficultas", which translates to "lack of ease" or "struggle". This Latin term eventually evolved into the Middle English word "difficulte" and later became the modern English word "difficulty" with the same meaning.