Problems

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɒbləmz/

Definitions

1. Challenges that cause hindrances or undesirable outcomes
2. Complications that arise leading to discomfort or necessary intervention
3. Issues or situations that demand careful thought or action to resolve

Etymology: The English word that now means a difficulty to be solved once meant something far more literal: anything thrown forward. Its ancestor in ancient Greek, "próblēma," came from "probállō," meaning to throw or lay something in front of someone, built from "pro-" (in front of) and "ballō" (to throw). The sense of a physical projection, such as a headland jutting out into the sea, came first, and the idea of an obstacle thrown in one's path grew out of that. The word reached English through Latin "problēma" and Middle French "probleme," arriving in Middle English as "probleme." Its later meaning shifted toward a question put forward for discussion or solution, which is how it came to mean a matter needing a solution. "Problem" has a doublet, "problema," which English borrowed separately, so the two forms developed side by side with different senses. The plural "problems" is simply the regular plural of "problem."

Synonyms: issues, challenges, difficulties, predicaments, troubles

Antonyms: solutions, answers, resolutions