different between dilemma vs bafflement

English

Etymology

First attested 1523, from Late Latin dilemma, from Ancient Greek ??????? (díl?mma, “ambiguous proposition”), from ??- (di-, “having two of”) + ????? (lêmma, “premise, proposition”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: d?-l?m?? or d?-l?m??, IPA^(key): /da??l?m?/, /d??l?m?/
• Rhymes: -?m?

Noun

dilemma (plural dilemmas or dilemmata)

1. A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:dilemma

   • 1731, Jonathan Swift, "An Epistle to Mr. Gay"

     A strong dilemma in a desperate case! / To act with infamy, or quit the place.

2. A difficult circumstance or problem.

   Synonyms: bind, fix, pickle, problem, quandary

3. (logic) A type of syllogism of the form "if A is true then B is true; if C is true then D is true; either A or C is true; therefore either B or D is true".
4. (rhetoric) Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.

Usage notes

Occasionally misspelled as dilemna, perhaps originally via false analogy with words such as condemn, solemn, and hymn. This spelling has been reportedly taught in many regions of Great Britain and the United States as well as around the world, and can be found in the works of many well-known authors (e.g. Isaac Watts, Defoe & Goldsmith).

Derived terms

Related terms

• lemma
• trilemma
• tetralemma
• pentalemma

Translations

See also

• between a rock and a hard place
• between the devil and the deep blue sea
• between Scylla and Charybdis
• Buridan's ass
• no-win situation
• catch-22
• damned if one does and damned if one doesn't
• doomed if you do, doomed if you don't
• predicament

Further reading

• dilemma on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Silva Rhetoricae

References

Anagrams

• midmeal

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dilemma, from Ancient Greek ??????? (díl?mma).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?di?l?.ma?/
• Hyphenation: di?lem?ma
• Rhymes: -?ma?

Noun

dilemma n (plural dilemma's, diminutive dilemmaatje n)

1. dilemma (between two alternatives)

Derived terms

• dilemmatisch

Finnish

(index d)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?dilem??/, [?dile?m??]
• Rhymes: -ilem??
• Syllabification: di?lem?ma

Noun

dilemma

1. dilemma (between two alternatives)

Declension

Italian

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ??????? (díl?mma).

Noun

dilemma m (plural dilemmi)

1. dilemma (between two alternatives)

Related terms

• dilemmatico

Anagrams

• dammeli, dimmela

Turkish

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ??????? (díl?mma).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [di.l?m??]

Noun

dilemma (definite accusative dilemmay?, plural dilemmalar)

1. dilemma

   Synonym: ikilem

Declension

English

Etymology

From baffle +? -ment.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?baf(?)lm?nt/

Noun

bafflement (countable and uncountable, plural bafflements)

1. (uncountable) The state or result of being baffled, puzzled, or confused.

   • He made a gesture of bafflement.

     "None whatever—it's beyond me," he confessed.

   • 2008, Chris Rojek, Brit-Myth: Who Do the British Think They Are?, Reaktion Books (?ISBN)

     The error here is to confuse British composure with the appearance of bafflement, embarrassment and reserve.

2. (countable) Something that causes a state of confusion or puzzlement.
   • 2005 Dec. 16, Josh Tyrangiel, "Best of 2005: Music," Time:

     The cartoon characters on the front cover, the irritatingly meaningless track names . . . make it seem like a concept album about global warming for kids. Since the lyrics remain a bafflement, it might well be.

Translations