different between contingency vs predicament

English

Etymology

contingent +? -cy (16th century).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t?nd??nsi/

Noun

contingency (countable and uncountable, plural contingencies)

1. (uncountable) The quality of being contingent, of happening by chance; unpredictability. [1560s]
2. (countable) A possibility; something which may or may not happen. A chance occurrence, especially in finance, unexpected expenses. [1610s]
3. (finance, countable) An amount of money which a party to a contract has to pay to the other party (usually the supplier of a major project to the client) if he or she does not fulfill the contract according to the specification.
4. (logic, countable) A statement which is neither a tautology nor a contradiction.

Synonyms

• (quality of happening by chance): possibility
• See also Thesaurus:option

Antonyms

• (quality of happening by chance): inevitability, impossibility

Coordinate terms

• (statement which is neither a tautology nor a contradiction): contradiction, tautology

Derived terms

• contingency plan

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• prædicament (chiefly obsolete)

Etymology

From Old French, from Late Latin praedicamentum (“that which is predicated, a predicament, category, Medieval Latin also a preaching, discourse”), from Latin praedicare (“to declare, proclaim, predicate”); see predicate.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p???d?k?m?nt/

Noun

predicament (plural predicaments)

1. A definite class, state or condition.
2. An unfortunate or trying position or condition; a tight spot.
3. (logic) That which is predicated; a category

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:difficult situation

Related terms

• preach
• predicate

Translations

See also

• can of worms
• difficulty
• kettle of fish
• tight spot
• trouble

References

• predicament in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• predicament in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• predicament at OneLook Dictionary Search

Romanian

Etymology

From French prédicament.

Noun

predicament n (plural predicamente)

1. predicament

Declension