different between conundrum vs quorum

English

Etymology

A word of unknown origin with several variants, gaining popularity for its burlesque imitation of scholastic Latin, as hocus-pocus or panjandrum. If there is more to its origin than a nonce coinage, Anatoly Liberman suggests the best theory is that connecting it with the Conimbricenses, 16th c. scholastic commentaries on Aristotle by the Jesuits of Coimbra which indulge heavily in arguments relying on multiple significations of words.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /k??n?n.d??m/

Noun

conundrum (plural conundrums or conundra)

1. A difficult question or riddle, especially one using a play on words in the answer.

   Synonyms: brain-teaser, enigma, puzzle, riddle

   • 1816, Jane Austen, Emma, Vol. 1, Ch. 2

     “Why should I understand that, or anything else?” asked the girl. “Don’t bother my head by asking conundrums, I beg of you. Just let me discover myself in my own way.”
2. A difficult choice or decision that must be made.

   Synonyms: dilemma; see also Thesaurus:dilemma

   • 2004, Martha Stewart, statement read before being sentenced to five months in prison

     And while I am more concerned about the well-being of others than for myself, more hurt for them and for their losses than for my own, more worried for their futures than for the future of Martha Stewart the person, you are faced with a conundrum, a problem of monumental, to me, proportions.

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:conundrum.

Translations

Further reading

• conundrum on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Conundrum in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

References

English

Etymology

From Latin qu?rum, genitive plural form of qu? (“who, which”), used as standard wording in written commissions.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?kw??.??m/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?kw???.?m/
• Rhymes: -????m
• Hyphenation: quo?rum

Noun

quorum (plural quorums or quora)

1. The minimum number of members required for a group to officially conduct business and to cast votes, often but not necessarily a majority or supermajority.

   We can discuss the issue tonight, but cannot vote until we have a quorum.

2. A selected body of persons.

Usage notes

The plural quora is sometimes objected to on the grounds that it is not grammatically correct: in Latin quorum is a plural pronoun, not a singular noun.

Derived terms

Translations

French

Etymology

From Latin qu?rum

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?.??m/

Noun

quorum m (plural quorums)

1. quorum

Italian

Etymology

From Latin qu?rum, genitive plural form of qu? (“who, which”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?kw?.rum/
• Rhymes: -?rum
• Hyphenation: quò?rum

Noun

quorum m (invariable)

1. quorum (minimum number of members required)

See also

• referendum

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /?k?o?.rum/, [?k?o?????]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /?kwo.rum/, [?kw???um]

Pronoun

qu?rum

1. genitive masculine plural of qu?
2. genitive neuter plural of qu?

Adjective

qu?rum

1. genitive masculine plural of qu?
2. genitive neuter plural of qu?

Pronoun

qu?rum

1. genitive masculine plural of quis
2. genitive neuter plural of quis

Descendants

• English: quorum
• French: quorum m
• Irish: córam
• Italian: quorum
• Polish: kworum
• Portuguese: quórum m
• Russian: ?????? m (kvorum)
• Spanish: cuórum m

Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?kf?.rum/

Noun

quorum n (indeclinable)

1. Alternative spelling of kworum.

Further reading

• quorum in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• quorum in Polish dictionaries at PWN