你要的高级词汇 ： predicament

词义

读音：predicament /prɪ'dɪkmənt/

词义：窘境，尴尬处境

词性：名词

级别：GRE

出处：

出自拉丁语 praedicamentum，它是对亚里士多德所用术语希腊文 kategoria 的仿译词 (loan-translation)。该词引申出"窘迫，凶险，棘手的处境"这一贬义义项，是从其本义"存在状态，境况，情势"衍生而来，该贬义用法始于16世纪80年代；另有名词义项 diction，溯源至15世纪早期。

predicament 的字面意思是"所宣称，断言的东西"，等于category。Category 为古希腊哲学家亚里士多德对当时的社会进行分类后创造出来的词，共十类。

了解了这些，你就明白 predicament 的字面和实际词义为什么相差那么多了。

用法

Aristotle grouped all existing properties into distinct predicaments in his logical work. 亚里士多德在逻辑学著作中将所有现存属性划归不同范畴。(古义) His reckless investment decisions landed the family in a grave predicament with huge debts. 他草率的投资决策背负巨额欠款，让整个家庭深陷绝境。 The shortage of skilled workers puts factory owners in an unavoidable predicament. 技术工人短缺，工厂老板们不得不面对棘手难题。 I found myself in an awkward predicament after missing the last train home. 错过回家的末班车后，我陷入了进退两难的窘境。 Many small businesses are stuck in an economic predicament amid rising raw material costs. 原材料价格持续上涨，不少小微企业深陷经济困局。 She lied to avoid punishment, only to create an even worse predicament for herself. 她撒谎想要躲过处罚，反倒给自己酿成更棘手的麻烦。 Without emergency supplies, the stranded hikers slipped into a dangerous predicament. 缺少应急物资，被困的徒步者陷入凶险的境地。

近义

Predicament 近义词按难度级别由低到高：

中学 fix /fɪks/：困境，窘境 mess /mes/：一团糟 corner /'kɔ:rnər/：困境，窘境 dilemma /dɪ'lemə/：进退两难 四六级 scrape /skreɪp/：困境 bind：困境，窘境 出国 muddle /'mʌdl/：糊涂，一团糟 quandary /'kwɑːndərɪ/：进退两难 plight：困境，窘境

同源

Predicament 的词根 dic 表示说话或断言，与 abdicate 同源。

影视

△The Blind Side (《弱点》2009)

名著

以下文字摘自《飘》(Gone with the Wind) 第5章。

"Not meaning to change the subject, Ma'm," broke in Gerald hurriedly, for he had noticed Carreen's bewildered look and the avid curiosity on Suellen's face and feared lest they might ask Ellen embarrassing questions which would reveal how inadequate a chaperon he was. Puss, he was glad to notice, appeared to be thinking of other matters as a lady should. Hetty Tarleton rescued him from his predicament. 我不是有意要改变话题，夫人。”杰拉尔德赶紧打断了她，因为他注意到卡丽恩一脸迷惑不解，苏埃伦急于想探听个究竟，他担心她们回去会问埃伦一些令人尴尬的问题，那样就会露了馅，让埃伦知道他这个陪同多么无能。令人高兴的是他注意到斯佳丽这姑娘倒还守闺训，看来在想别的事情。 幸亏赫蒂·塔尔顿替他解了围。