Predicament

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pɹɪˈdɪkÉ™mÉ™nt/

Alternative forms

• prædicament chiefly obsolete

Origin

From Old French, from Late Latin praedicamentum, from Latin praedicare ("to declare, proclaim, predicate"); see predicate.

Full definition of predicament

Noun

1. A definite class, state or condition.
2. An unfortunate or trying position or condition; a tight spot.
• 1978, w, The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism, Culture, for me, is the effort to provide a coherent set of answers to the existential predicaments that confront all human beings in the passage of their life.
• 2011, December 10, Marc Higginson, Bolton 1 - 2 Aston Villa, The Midlanders will hope the victory will kickstart a campaign that looked to have hit the buffers, but the sense of trepidation enveloping the Reebok Stadium heading into the new year underlines the seriousness of the predicament facing Owen Coyle's men.
3. (logic) That which is predicated; a category.

Synonyms

Related terms

• preach
• predicate