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Webster 1913 Edition

Difficulty

Dif′fi-cul-ty

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Difficulties
(#)
.
[L.
difficultas
, fr.
difficilis
difficult;
dif-
= dis-
+
facilis
easy: cf. F.
difficulté
. See
Facile
.]
1.
The state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness; arduousness; – opposed to
easiness
or
facility
;
as, the
difficulty
of a task or enterprise; a work of
difficulty
.
Not being able to promote them [the interests of life] on account of the
difficulty
of the region.
James Byrne.
2.
Something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill and perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment;
as, the
difficulties
of a science;
difficulties
in theology.
They lie under some
difficulties
by reason of the emperor’s displeasure.
Addison.
3.
A controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a cavil.
Measures for terminating all local
difficulties
.
Bancroft.
4.
Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; – usually in the plural;
as, to be in
difficulties
.
Syn. – Impediment; obstacle; obstruction; embarrassment; perplexity; exigency; distress; trouble; trial; objection; cavil. See
Impediment
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Difficulty

DIFFICULTY

,
Noun.
[L.]
1.
Hardness to be done or accomplished; the state of any thing which renders its performance laborious or perplexing; opposed to easiness or facility; as the difficulty of a task or enterprise; a work of labor and difficulty.
2.
That which is hard to be performed or surmounted. We often mistake difficulties for impossibilities. To overcome difficulties is an evidence of a great mind.
3.
Perplexity; embarrassment of affairs; trouble; whatever renders progress or execution of designs laborious. We lie under many difficulties, by reason of bad markets, or a low state of trade.
4.
Objection; obstacle to belief; that which cannot be easily understood, explained or believed, Men often raise difficulties concerning miracles and mysteries in religion, which candid research will remove.
5.
In a popular sense, bodily complaints; indisposition.

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