different between irresolution vs perplexity

English

Etymology

From French irrésolution, from ir- + résolution (“resolution”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???z??lu???n/

Noun

irresolution (countable and uncountable, plural irresolutions)

1. Lack of resolution; lack of decision or purpose; vacillation.
   • 1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society 1985, p. 238:

     Again he paced the chamber; but an involuntary movement of awe and inquietude constantly led his eye towards the alcove. He drew near it with irresolution.

Translations

References

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

English

Etymology

perplex +? -ity, from Middle French perplexité or post-classical Latin perplexitas ‘entanglement’, from perplexus.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /p??pl?ks?ti/
• (US) IPA^(key): /p???pl?ks?di/

Noun

perplexity (countable and uncountable, plural perplexities)

1. The state or quality of being perplexed; puzzled or confused.
2. Something that perplexes.
   • 1942, Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (Canongate 2006), page 149:

     The Emperor, who was by then a focus of unresolvable perplexities, stood providing a strongly contrary appearance.

3. In information theory, a measurement of how well a probability distribution or model predicts a sample.

Translations