different between extremity vs difficulty

English

Etymology

From Middle English extremite, from Old French extremité, from Latin extr?mit?s (“extremity; border, perimeter; ending”), from extrem?s (“furthest, extreme”) + -it?s (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *-teh?ts (“suffix forming nouns indicating a state of being”); see extreme. Extrem?s is derived from exter (“external, outward”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h?e??s (“out”)) + -issimus (“suffix indicating a superlative”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *-is- (“suffix indicating a comparative”) + *-(t)m?mo- (“suffix indicating the absolutive case”)).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: ?kstr?'m?t?, IPA^(key): /?k?st??m?ti/, /?k-/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k?st??m?ti/, /-?i/
• Hyphenation: ex?tre?mi?ty

Noun

extremity (countable and uncountable, plural extremities or extremitys) (obsolete)

1. The most extreme or furthest point of something. [from c. 1400]
2. An extreme measure.
3. A hand or foot. [from early 15th c.]
4. A limb (“major appendage of a human or animal such as an arm, leg, or wing”). [from early 15th c.]

Synonyms

• (furthest point): tip
• (major appendage of human or animal): appendage, limb

Derived terms

• extremital

Related terms

• extreme
• extremely
• extremeness
• extremism
• extremist

Translations

Further reading

• extremities on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• extremity in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• extremity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Etymology

From Middle English difficultee, from Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile and difficult. Equivalent to dis- +? facile +? -ty. Also analysable as difficult +? -y, though the adjective is historically a backformation from the noun.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d?f?k?lti/

Noun

difficulty (countable and uncountable, plural difficulties)

1. The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
2. An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
3. (sometimes in the plural) Physical danger from the environment, especially with risk of drowning
   • 2012 August 2, "Children rescued after getting into difficulties in Donegal" BBC Online
   • 2016 March 30, Alan Thompson, "Diver taken to hospital after getting into difficulties at Stoney Cove diving centre" Leicester Mercury
   • 2016 February 24, Catherine Shanahan, "Boy, 13, drowns after getting into difficulty in river" Irish Examiner

     The three teenagers, a girl and two boys, were playing by the river when it is believed they got into difficulty.

   • 2016 March 14, "Kayaker rescued after getting into difficulty" Bournemouth Echo

     Members of the public had called 999 as they were concerned the kayaker was in difficulty around the headland race due to very strong spring tides and choppy seas with the kayaker making no headway.

   • 2016 March 19, Neil Shaw "Teens rescued from Dartmoor after getting into difficulty" Plymouth Herald

     A group of young people had to be rescued from Dartmoor on Friday night after getting into difficulty during a Duke of Edinburgh exercise. […] A 16-year-old girl required medical attention and a medic was winched down to the site by helicopter.

4. An objection.
5. That which cannot be easily understood or believed.
6. An awkward situation or quarrel.

Derived terms

• difficulty level
• with difficulty

Related terms

• difficile
• difficult

Translations

Further reading

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