Quandary
/ˈkwɑːn.də.ri/noun
A state of uncertainty or a difficult choice between alternatives.
Did you know?The exact origin of *quandary* is uncertain, but it appears in the 16th century and may be connected to an older sense of being perplexed or in a mental snare rather than any occult term.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kʷer-
“to ask, seek, or desire”
Latin
Latin
quaerere
“to seek, ask, or inquire”
Old French
Old French
querre
“to seek or ask”
16th Century
English
quandary
“a state of doubt, uncertainty, or perplexity”
Modern English
English
quandary
“a difficult or perplexing situation with no easy choice”