problematic English · revision 15287

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1609|origins=grc πρόβλημα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌpɹɒb.ləˈmæt.ɪk/ ''(UK)''; /ˌpɹɑ.bləˈmæt.ɪk/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|problématique]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-lat|problēmaticus]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[grc|προβληματικός|tr=problēmatikós|t=relating to a problem]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|grc|πρόβλημα|tr=próblēma]] (see [[problem]]).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Doubtful, questionable, uncertain: about 1600 in Etymonline, 1609 in the OED, of the nature of a problem.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Problematical is older, from the 1560s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In logic, stating what is possible but not necessarily true, it is from the 1610s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In chess it relates to chess problems, from 1890.^(OED 1989) The noun, an area of difficulty, is a sociological use from 1957,^(OED 1989) and Etymonline links the modern sense, causing difficulty, to it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1560s – problematical.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1609 – problematic.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1610 – in logic.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1957 – a problematic (noun).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Causing a [[problem]] or difficulty; hard to deal with.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Open to doubt; [[questionable]] or unresolved.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(logic, obsolete)'' Asserting what is possible but not certain.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[problematically]]

+ * [[nonproblematic]]

+ * [[unproblematic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[problem]]

+ * [[problematical]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}