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Dilemma

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a situation requiring a difficult choice between options

Where does the word "dilemma" come from? It comes from Greek dilēmma, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1520s).

dilēmma→dilemma→dilemma

Greek · ancient

"double proposition"

a 'double premise', a trap in argument from 'di-', two, and 'lēmma', assumption

Late Latin · ancient

a term of logic and rhetoric

English · 1520s

"difficult choice"

'the horns of a dilemma' pictures the two choices as a bull's horns

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Dilemma’s story begins in Greek: dilēmma meant “double proposition.” A 'double premise', a trap in argument from 'di-', two, and 'lēmma', assumption. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as dilemma. A term of logic and rhetoric. It reached English by 1520s as dilemma. 'the horns of a dilemma' pictures the two choices as a bull's horns. Today, dilemma means a situation requiring a difficult choice between options.