• Conundrum

    Pronunciation

    • RP IPA: /kəˈnÊŒn.dɹəm/

    Origin

    A word of unknown origin, probably coined in burlesque imitation of scholastic Latin, as "hocus-pocus" or "panjandrum".

    Full definition of conundrum

    Noun

    conundrum

    (plural conundrums or conundra)
    1. A difficult question or riddle, especially one using a play on words in the answer.
      • 1816, Jane Austen, ,“Why should I understand that, or anything else?” asked the girl. “Don’t bother my head by asking conundrums, I beg of you. Just let me discover myself in my own way.”
    2. A difficult choice or decision that must be made.

    Synonyms

    © Wiktionary