The word predicament is spelled as \prɪˈdɪkəmənt\. The first syllable, pronounced as /prɪ/, is spelled with the letter "i" followed by the letter "d" which represents the /d/ sound. The second syllable, pronounced as /ˈdɪk/ has the letter "i" representing the /ɪ/ vowel sound and the letter "c" followed by "a" producing the /k/ sound. The final syllable, pronounced as /əmənt/, contains the letter "e" representing the /ə/ vowel sound and the letters "n" and "t" producing the /mənt/ sound.
A predicament is a difficult or challenging situation or condition that presents a dilemma or an obstacle. It is a state of being caught or trapped in a perplexing or challenging circumstance with no clear or easy solution. The term often implies a sense of urgency or importance, as it describes a situation that requires immediate attention or action.
In a predicament, individuals find themselves faced with a problem that is difficult to resolve or escape from. This can arise from external circumstances beyond their control, personal decisions, unexpected events, or a combination of these factors. Predicaments are characterized by their complexity, as they often involve conflicting interests, limited resources, or uncertain outcomes.
Being caught in a predicament can be emotionally distressing, as it engenders feelings of helplessness, frustration, or anxiety. One may feel trapped, perplexed, or overwhelmed by the predicament's demands and consequences. Oftentimes, individuals grappling with a predicament may seek assistance, guidance, or advice from others to alleviate the situation or find a way out.
Navigating a predicament usually requires careful evaluation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. It may demand a person's creativity, resilience, and adaptability to come up with viable solutions or make the best possible decisions under challenging circumstances. Resolving a predicament often entails weighing options, considering risks, and making difficult choices in order to mitigate or overcome the difficult situation at hand.
Particular situation or state; bad position; in logic, one of the general heads or classes under one or other of which all the terms may be arranged-viz., substance, quantity, quality, relation, place, time, situation, possession, action, suffering.
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 "predicament" originated from the Latin word "praedicamentum", which was derived from the Greek term "kategoria". In Aristotle's works on logic, "kategoria" was used to refer to a classification or a category of being. Over time, "praedicamentum" in Latin came to refer to the predicament or condition in which someone found themselves. Eventually, in English, the word "predicament" emerged to refer to a difficult or challenging situation or circumstance.