DIFFICULTY
trouble, difficulty
(noun) an effort that is inconvenient; “I went to a lot of trouble”; “he won without any trouble”; “had difficulty walking”; “finished the test only with great difficulty”
difficulty, difficultness
(noun) the quality of being difficult; “they agreed about the difficulty of the climb”
difficulty
(noun) a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result; “serious difficulties were encountered in obtaining a pure reagent”
difficulty
(noun) a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one’s ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome; “grappling with financial difficulties”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
difficulty (countable and uncountable, plural difficulties)
The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
(sometimes, in the plural) Physical danger from the environment, especially with risk of drowning
An objection.
That which cannot be easily understood or believed.
An awkward situation or quarrel.
Source: Wiktionary
Dif"fi*cul*ty, n.; pl. Difficulties. Etym: [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 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.
In days of difficulty and pressure. Tennyson.
Syn.
– Impediment; obstacle; obstruction; embarrassment; perplexity;
exigency; distress; trouble; trial; objection; cavil. See Impediment.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition