Conundrum

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kəˈnʌn.dɹəm/

Definitions

1. A confusing problem or question that is extremely difficult or impossible to solve, or a riddle posed as a puzzle for amusement
2. A perplexing puzzle or problem that presents seemingly contradictory elements and resists straightforward resolution
3. An intricate question or situation involving paradoxical or baffling circumstances that defies easy explanation or solution

Etymology: Few words sound more like Latin than "conundrum," yet its origin is generally thought to be a joke at Latin's expense. The word appeared in the 1600s as a playful imitation of the dense, formal jargon of scholastic Latin, in the same family as "hocus-pocus" and "panjandrum." Its exact source is unknown, and several spelling variants competed for a time, which is typical of a word that spread through speech and wordplay before settling into print. One suggested source is the Conimbricenses, a set of 16th-century commentaries on Aristotle written by Jesuits at Coimbra. Those texts leaned heavily on arguments that exploited the multiple meanings of single words, a style that could easily be mocked as nonsense dressed up in learned language. The theory, put forward by the etymologist Anatoly Liberman, remains a plausible explanation rather than a settled fact, so the word's true beginnings may still be partly a mystery.

Synonyms: riddle, puzzle, enigma, mystery, dilemma