difficult

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   not easy or simple

   This physics equation is difficult to solve.

2. 2
   adj

   hard to control

   That child is being extremely difficult.

3. 3
   adj

   Hard, not easy, requiring much effort.

   difficult of accomplishment

4. 4
   adj

   Hard to manage, uncooperative, troublesome.

   Stop being difficult and eat your broccoli—you know it's good for you.

5. 5
   adj

   Unable or unwilling.

   “I hope, madam,” said Jones, “my charming Lady Bellaston will be as difficult to believe anything against one who is so sensible of the many obligations she hath conferred upon him.”

6. 6
   verb

   To make difficult; to impede; to perplex.

   August 9 1678, William Temple, letter to Joseph Williamson their Excellencies having desisted from their pretensions , which had difficulted the peace

Etymology

From Middle English difficult (ca. 1400), a back-formation from difficulte (whence modern difficulty), from Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile. Replaced native Middle English earveþ (“difficult, hard”), from Old English earfoþe (“difficult, laborious, full of hardship”), cognate to German Arbeit (“work”). The verb is from the adjective, partly after Middle French difficulter and its etymon Latin difficultō. Compare difficilitate, difficultate, and Italian difficoltare.