Main Entry: dif·fi·cult

Pronunciation: \ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, back-formation from difficulty

Date: 14th century

1 : hard to do, make, or carry out : arduous <a difficult climb>
2 a : hard to deal with, manage, or overcome <a difficult child> b : hard to understand : puzzling <difficult reading>

synonyms see hard

— dif·fi·cult·ly adverb