Where does “Dilemma” come from?
Dilemma (German) comes from Latin dilēmma, from Ancient Greek δίλημμα, from Ancient Greek λῆμμα, from Ancient Greek λαμβάνω, from Proto-Hellenic hlagʷ-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)leh₂gʷ- — to seize, take; to take, seize.
Dilemma (German): dilemma, predicament, quandary, conundrum,...
Definitions
- dilemma, predicament, quandary, conundrum,...
Ancestry of “Dilemma”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | dilēmma | conclusion from two premises |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | δίλημμα | a conclusion from two premises |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | λῆμμα | gain, income; premise, assumption |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | λαμβάνω | I take; I receive, get; I take hold of |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | hlagʷ- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)leh₂gʷ- | to seize, take; to take, seize |