Difficulties

/dɪˈfɪkəltiz/ noun

Definition

problems or challenges that make something hard to do; situations that require extra effort or cause trouble.

Etymology

From Latin 'difficilis' (hard to do), combining 'dis-' (not) and 'facilis' (easy). The word entered English in the 1300s and describes anything that's not easy.

Kelly Says

The word 'difficult' literally breaks down to 'dis-' (not) plus 'facilis' (easy)—so 'difficult' originally meant 'not easy,' which seems obvious but shows how Latin builds meaning!

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