- Today's Word
Quandary
KWAHN-duh-ree
Definition
- (noun) A state of uncertainty, confusion, or doubt, often involving a difficult decision.
Example
She found herself in a quandary when she received two amazing job offers and couldn’t decide which to take.
Fun Fact
The origin of “quandary” is unclear, but it has been used since the 16th century to describe dilemmas that leave people unsure of what to do. Whether choosing between two tempting desserts or deciding on a life-changing move, we all experience quandaries—big and small—every day!
(verb) To suggest or assume something as a basis for reasoning or argument without prior proof.
The scientist postulated that the mysterious signals were coming from a previously undiscovered layer of the atmosphere, a theory that took years to confirm.
Postulate derives from the Latin postulare, meaning “to demand” or “to claim,” rooted in poscere, meaning “to ask urgently.” In medieval logic and mathematics, a postulate was a foundational assumption that didn’t require proof — something demanded to be accepted as a starting point. Euclid’s famous geometric postulates, written around 300 BCE, are among the most influential examples in intellectual history.