Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A situation, especially an unpleasant, troublesome, or trying one, from which extrication is difficult. See Usage Note at dilemma.
- n. Logic One of the basic states or classifications described by Aristotle into which all things can be placed; a category.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. That which is predicated; specifically, in the Aristotelian philos., one of the ten categories. See category, 1.
- n. A definite class, state, or condition.
- n. A dangerous or trying situation; an unpleasant position.
- n. Synonyms Position, plight, case.
Wiktionary
- n. A definite class, state or condition.
- n. An unfortunate or trying position or condition; a tight spot.
- n. That which is predicated; a category.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A class or kind described by any definite marks; hence, condition; particular situation or state; especially, an unfortunate or trying position or condition.
- n. See Category.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
Etymologies
- Middle English, class, category, from Old French, from Late Latin praedicāmentum (translation of Greek katēgoriā, from katēgoreuein, to speak against, signify, predicate), from Latin praedicāre, to proclaim publicly, predicate; see preach.
Examples
“This time the predicament is a different one and knives are being sharpened.”
“This could have been a great way to give some background metaphor characterization to Emma, but alas, her predicament is never fully explained beyond that; it's only mentioned that she has experienced loss.”
“At the core of Joanna's predicament is a conflict of values, inherent in the affair itself, not just in its resolution.”
“Their predicament is unfortunate, since there are many emerging Internet and Web 2.0 legal technologies that can save law offices time and money by increasing efficiency and reducing costs, including:”
“The plight of people who have exhausted all 99 weeks of unemployment insurance available in some states -- the "99ers" -- has received some attention from Congress and the media, but mostly their predicament is regarded as an intractable and pitiful part of a bigger problem.”
The Huffington Post: 99ers: How Many People Have Run Out Of Unemployment Benefits?
“Making the most of its impressive single location (freezing Utah as opposed to heated Hollywood) the premise lurches from "Open Water with snow" to "Jaws with wolves" with impressively gripping results; we know enough about the characters to care when they get hurt, and their chilly predicament is just on the right side of believable.”
“This teenage predicament is not unfamiliar in my memory and I think, based on no evidence at all, that the male takes longer to get to shades of grey.”
“Because the only person Moss has to blame for his current predicament is himself.”
“I generally agree with the recently expressed sentiments that Clinton has run a poor campaign overall, and that her current predicament is a product of faulty assumptions and a fundamental misreading of the political landscape over the last year or more.”
“Even though events play out like they have to (that's the predicatble part), Hector's predicament is still fascinating to roll around in your head.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘predicament’.
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GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abdicate, aberrant, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhor, abject, abjure and 4084 more...
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Jeeves and Wooster - Jeeves
"Jeevesisms" as heard from the valet Jeeves in P.G. Wodehouse's "Jeeves and Wooster" stories.
temptations of a ..., with due expediency, outspoken disposi..., spring unbidden t..., simplicity of genius, natural gratifica..., under the delusion, warmly ensconced, merry mélange, opprobrious remark, respectable woman, taciturnity and 46 more...
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fix
set, anchor, mend, rivet, moor, clinch, emend, circumfix, fixated, cefixime, fixed cost, confix and 87 more...
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Middle School Vocab Inspiration
Words for my enrichment class, "Word Lab", that inspire and delight, and teach roots, prefixes, suffixes.
kerfuffle, astronomical, balderdash, decimate, doppelganger, predicament
abcede please
Dec 27, 2009
abcede wla ba pong sentence ng predicament
Dec 27, 2009