- conundrum
- noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1645 1. a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun 2. a. a question or problem having only a conjectural answer b. an intricate and difficult problem
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
conundrum
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Conundrum — Co*nun drum, n. [Origin unknown.] 1. A kind of riddle based upon some fanciful or fantastic resemblance between things quite unlike; a puzzling question, of which the answer is or involves a pun. [1913 Webster] Or pun ambiguous, or conundrum… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
conundrum — (n.) 1590s, Oxford University slang for pedant, also whim, etc., later (1790) riddle, puzzle. Also spelled quonundrum. The sort of ponderous pseudo Latin word that was once the height of humor in learned circles … Etymology dictionary
conundrum — puzzle, riddle, enigma, problem, *mystery … New Dictionary of Synonyms
conundrum — is a 16c word of unknown origin, perhaps a facetious invention. It has a plural conundrums … Modern English usage
conundrum — [n] puzzle brain teaser, closed book*, enigma, mystery, mystification, poser*, problem, puzzlement, riddle, why*; concepts 532,666,690 … New thesaurus
conundrum — ► NOUN (pl. conundrums) 1) a confusing and difficult problem or question. 2) a riddle. ORIGIN originally in the sense «a crank or pedant»: of unknown origin … English terms dictionary
conundrum — [kə nun′drəm] n. [16th c. Oxford University L slang for pedant, whim, etc.; early sp. quonundrum] 1. a riddle whose answer contains a pun (Ex.: “What s the difference between a jeweler and a jailer?” “One sells watches and the other watches cells … English World dictionary
Conundrum — Contents 1 Literature 2 Other fields Conundrum may refer to: A riddle whose answer is or involves a pun or unexpected twist A logical postulation that evades resolution, an … Wikipedia
Conundrum — «Даллас» Conundrum … Википедия
conundrum — [16] Conundrum originally appeared in all manner of weird and wonderful guises – conimbrum, conuncrum, quonundrum, connunder, etc – before settling down to conundrum in the late 18th century. It bears all the marks of one of the rather heavy… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
conundrum — [[t]kənʌ̱ndrəm[/t]] conundrums N COUNT A conundrum is a problem or puzzle which is difficult or impossible to solve. [FORMAL] ...this theological conundrum of the existence of evil and suffering in a world created by a good God … English dictionary
