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dilemma
di·lem·ma / diˈlemə/ • n. a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, esp. equally undesirable ones: the people often face the dilemma of feeding themselves or their cattle. ∎ inf. a difficult situation or problem: the insoluble dilemma of adolescence. ∎ Logic an argument forcing an opponent to choose either of two unfavorable alternatives. |
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"dilemma." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "dilemma." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-dilemma.html "dilemma." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-dilemma.html |
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dilemma
dilemma a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable (see also on the horns of a dilemma). The word is recorded from the early 16th century, denoting a form of argument involving a choice between equally unfavourable alternatives; it comes via Latin from Greek dilēmma, from di- ‘twice’ + lēmma ‘premise’.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "dilemma." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "dilemma." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-dilemma.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "dilemma." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-dilemma.html |
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dilemma
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T. F. HOAD. "dilemma." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "dilemma." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-dilemma.html T. F. HOAD. "dilemma." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-dilemma.html |
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Dilemma
179. Dilemma
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"Dilemma." Allusions--Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. 1986. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Dilemma." Allusions--Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. 1986. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505500188.html "Dilemma." Allusions--Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. 1986. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505500188.html |
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dilemma
dilemma
•Alabama, clamour (US clamor), crammer, gamma, glamour (US glamor), gnamma, grammar, hammer, jammer, lamber, mamma, rammer, shammer, slammer, stammer, yammer
•Padma • magma • drachma
•Alma, halma, Palma
•Cranmer • asthma • mahatma
•miasma, plasma
•jackhammer • sledgehammer
•yellowhammer • windjammer
•flimflammer • programmer
•amah, armour (US armor), Atacama, Brahma, Bramah, charmer, cyclorama, dharma, diorama, disarmer, drama, embalmer, farmer, Kama, karma, lama, llama, Matsuyama, panorama, Parma, pranayama, Rama, Samar, Surinamer, Vasco da Gama, Yama, Yokohama
•snake-charmer • docudrama
•melodrama
•contemner, dilemma, Emma, emmer, Jemma, lemma, maremma, stemma, tremor
•Elmer, Selma, Thelma, Velma
•Mesmer
•claimer, defamer, framer, proclaimer, Shema, tamer
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Cite this article
"dilemma." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "dilemma." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-dilemma.html "dilemma." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-dilemma.html |
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