problema

Forms

problema m (plural problemas)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin problēma (“a question proposed for solution, a problem”), a learned word first recorded in 1683.^[2][3][1][4] Cunha dates it to the 17th century.^[2][3][1][4] Cunha takes it from Late Latin, where Lewis & Short find it only after Augustus.^[3][5] The Latin word is a loan from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (próblēma), which meant anything projecting, such as a headland, then a hindrance or obstacle, a defence or barrier, and a task or question put forward.^[2][1][6] It is formed from προβάλλω (probállō, “to throw before; to put forward, propose”) with the suffix -μα (-ma).^[2][1] The same Latin word gave French problème, borrowed about 1380.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Houaiss's first record, of 1683, has the sense “a controversial matter not yet satisfactorily settled”.^[2] Bluteau explains it as a question put forward to exercise the wit, which seems neither true nor false and can be defended either way, and also as a question about a natural effect whose cause is to be discovered, like the Problems of Aristotle.^[7]

Semantic evolution

Feijó (1734) still defines it as a question argued on both sides.^[8] Morais (1789) adds the question asking for the reason of something unknown and the mathematical proposition asking for something to be done by the rules of geometry.^[9] Vieira (1871–1874) gives the mathematical sense first and then, in general, anything hard to explain or conceive.^[10] Cunha's definition is the mathematical one.^[3]

From “a question hard to explain or resolve” the word came to mean any difficulty or trouble, and informally a physical or mental disorder.^[11][1] The derived verb problematizar is recorded from 1836.^[3]

Timeline

• 1683 – first record.^[2]
• 1712–1728 – Bluteau cites the Problems of Aristotle.^[7]
• 1734 – Feijó: a question argued on both sides.^[8]
• 1789 – Morais adds the mathematical problem.^[9]
• 1836 – first record of problematizar.^[3]
• 1871–1874 – Vieira: anything hard to explain.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. A difficulty to be solved or dealt with, a trouble: O carro tem um problema no motor.^[1][12][11]
2. A question to be answered;^{[3][12][11][1]} (mathematics) a question proposed for solution, a school exercise: um problema de álgebra.^{[3][12][11][1]}
3. An unsettled question under discussion in a field of knowledge: os problemas da filosofia.^[2][12]
4. (informal) A physical or mental disorder: um problema de coração.^[1]

Word family

• problemão
• probleminha
• problematizar

Related words

• problemática
• problematicamente
• problematicidade
• problemático
• problemista
• Latin problēma
• French problème

Usage notes

Wiktionary records the nonstandard pronunciations /poˈbrẽ.mɐ/ and /puˈble.mɐ/.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Houaiss, Antônio; Villar, Mauro de Salles (2001), Dicionário Houaiss da língua portuguesa, Rio de Janeiro: Objetiva, p. s.v. problema
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Cunha, Antônio Geraldo da (2010), Dicionário etimológico da língua portuguesa, 4th ed., Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon, p. s.v. problema
4. ^ a b Nascentes, Antenor (1966), Dicionário etimológico resumido, Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Nacional do Livro, p. s.v. problema
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press, p. s.v. problema
6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert, p. s.v. problème
7. ^ a b Bluteau, Raphael (1712–1728), Vocabulario portuguez e latino, 8 vols. + 2 supplement vols., Coimbra / Lisboa (CLP transcription, Universidade de Aveiro), p. s.v. problema
8. ^ a b Feijó, João de Morais Madureira (1734), Orthographia, ou Arte de escrever, e pronunciar com acerto a lingua portugueza, Lisboa (CLP transcription, Universidade de Aveiro), p. s.v. problema
9. ^ a b Silva, António de Morais (1789), Diccionario da lingua portugueza composto pelo padre D. Rafael Bluteau, reformado, e accrescentado, 2 vols., Lisboa: Simão Thaddeo Ferreira, p. 2, 247
10. ^ a b Vieira, Frei Domingos (1871–1874), Grande Diccionario Portuguez ou Thesouro da lingua portugueza, 5 vols., Porto: Ernesto Chardron e Bartholomeu H. de Moraes, p. 4, 952
11. ^ a b c d Academia das Ciências de Lisboa, Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa, revised online edition (2023–) of the Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa Contemporânea (2001), https://dicionario.acad-ciencias.pt, p. s.v. problema
12. ^ a b c d Ferreira, Aurélio Buarque de Holanda, Novo dicionário Aurélio da língua portuguesa, digital edition, p. s.v. problema