difficulty
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dif·fi·cul·ty

noun \-(ˌ)kəl-tē\
plural dif·fi·cul·ties

Definition of DIFFICULTY

1
: the quality or state of being difficult
4
: something difficult : impediment
5
: embarrassment, trouble —usually used in plural

Examples of DIFFICULTY

  1. She underestimated the difficulty of saving so much money.
  2. <the many difficulties that he encountered on the road from poor orphan to head of a major corporation>

Origin of DIFFICULTY

Middle English difficulte, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, from difficilis not easy, from dis- + facilis easy — more at facile
First Known Use: 14th century

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