Part 3097

<blockquote>There is not the strength or courage left me to venture into the wide, strange, and <b>difficult</b> world, alone. <i>Hawthorne.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Hard to manage or to please; not easily wrought upon; austere; stubborn; <as>as, a <ex>difficult</ex> person</as>.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- Arduous; painful; crabbed; perplexed; laborious; unaccommodating; troublesome. See <er>Arduous</er>.</syn>

<h1>Difficult</h1> <Xpage=410>

<hw>Dif"fi*cult</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To render difficult; to impede; to perplex.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Sir W. Temple.</i>

<h1>Difficultate</h1> <Xpage=410>

<hw>Dif"fi*cult*ate</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To render difficult; to difficilitate.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Cotgrave.</i>

<h1>Difficultly</h1> <Xpage=410>

<hw>Dif"fi*cult*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>With difficulty.</def>

<i>Cowper.</i>

<h1>Difficultness</h1> <Xpage=410>

<hw>Dif"fi*cult*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Difficulty.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Golding.</i>

<h1>Difficulty</h1> <Xpage=410>

<hw>Dif"fi*cul*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Difficulties</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L. <ets>difficultas</ets>, fr. <ets>difficilis</ets> difficult; <ets>dif-</ets> <ets>= dis-</ets> + <ets>facilis</ets> easy: cf. F. <ets>difficult\'82</ets>. See <er>Facile</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness; arduousness; -- opposed to <i>easiness</i> or <i>facility</i>; <as>as, the <ex>difficulty</ex> of a task or enterprise; a work of <ex>difficulty</ex>.</as></def>

<blockquote>Not being able to promote them [the interests of life] on account of the <b>difficulty</b> of the region. <i>James Byrne.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment; <as>as, the <ex>difficulties</ex> of a science; <ex>difficulties</ex> in theology.</as></def>

<blockquote>They lie under some <b>difficulties</b> by reason of the emperor's displeasure. <i>Addison.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a cavil.</def>

<blockquote>Measures for terminating all local <b>difficulties</b>. <i>Bancroft.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; -- usually in the plural; <as>as, to be in <ex>difficulties</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>In days of <b>difficulty</b> and pressure. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Impediment; obstacle; obstruction; embarrassment; perplexity; exigency; distress; trouble; trial; objection; cavil. See <er>Impediment</er>.</syn>

<h1>Diffide</h1> <Xpage=410>

<hw>Dif*fide"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>diffidere</ets>. See <er>Diffident</er>.]</ety> <def>To be distrustful.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>