Conundrum

Conundrum
Conundrum Co*nun"drum, n. [Origin unknown.] 1. A kind of riddle based upon some fanciful or fantastic resemblance between things quite unlike; a puzzling question, of which the answer is or involves a pun. [1913 Webster]

Or pun ambiguous, or conundrum quaint. --J. Philips. [1913 Webster]

2. A question to which only a conjectural answer can be made. [1913 Webster]

Do you think life is long enough to let me speculate on conundrums like that? --W. Black. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • conundrum — (n.) 1590s, Oxford University slang for pedant, also whim, etc., later (1790) riddle, puzzle. Also spelled quonundrum. The sort of ponderous pseudo Latin word that was once the height of humor in learned circles …   Etymology dictionary

  • conundrum — puzzle, riddle, enigma, problem, *mystery …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • conundrum — is a 16c word of unknown origin, perhaps a facetious invention. It has a plural conundrums …   Modern English usage

  • conundrum — [n] puzzle brain teaser, closed book*, enigma, mystery, mystification, poser*, problem, puzzlement, riddle, why*; concepts 532,666,690 …   New thesaurus

  • conundrum — ► NOUN (pl. conundrums) 1) a confusing and difficult problem or question. 2) a riddle. ORIGIN originally in the sense «a crank or pedant»: of unknown origin …   English terms dictionary

  • conundrum — [kə nun′drəm] n. [16th c. Oxford University L slang for pedant, whim, etc.; early sp. quonundrum] 1. a riddle whose answer contains a pun (Ex.: “What s the difference between a jeweler and a jailer?” “One sells watches and the other watches cells …   English World dictionary

  • Conundrum — Contents 1 Literature 2 Other fields Conundrum may refer to: A riddle whose answer is or involves a pun or unexpected twist A logical postulation that evades resolution, an …   Wikipedia

  • Conundrum — «Даллас» Conundrum …   Википедия

  • conundrum — [16] Conundrum originally appeared in all manner of weird and wonderful guises – conimbrum, conuncrum, quonundrum, connunder, etc – before settling down to conundrum in the late 18th century. It bears all the marks of one of the rather heavy… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • conundrum — [[t]kənʌ̱ndrəm[/t]] conundrums N COUNT A conundrum is a problem or puzzle which is difficult or impossible to solve. [FORMAL] ...this theological conundrum of the existence of evil and suffering in a world created by a good God …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”