When I encountered this word, I looked up etymonline.com and tried to memorize it by dissecting it into several roots and making sense of them. Having done so, I found the biggest problem: all goes well until the website says "The meaning "unpleasant, dangerous, or trying situation" is a particular negative use of the general sense of "a state of being, condition, situation" (1580s)."
I can't see how it jumps from "a state of being" to "a particular negative use", which sounds strained and uncanny to me as the missing puzzle that can complete the whole picture is nowhere to be found. Nor do I understand this giant leap of logic, despite some efforts by the members in a forum that helps to solve English problems.
Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.
Reference: Etymology: predicament
I can't see how it jumps from "a state of being" to "a particular negative use", which sounds strained and uncanny to me as the missing puzzle that can complete the whole picture is nowhere to be found. Nor do I understand this giant leap of logic, despite some efforts by the members in a forum that helps to solve English problems.
Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.
Reference: Etymology: predicament