quandary: [16] Quandary may have originated as a quasi-latinism. One of its early forms was quandare, which suggests that it may have been a pseudo-Latin infinitive verb, coined on the fanciful notion that Latin quandō ‘when’ was a first person present singular form.
quandary (n.)
"state of perplexity," 1570s, of unknown origin, perhaps a quasi-Latinism based on Latin quando "when? at what time?; at the time that, inasmuch," pronominal adverb of time, related to qui "who" (see who). Originally accented on the second syllable.
双语例句
1. George was in a quandary —should he go or shouldn't he?
乔治犹豫不定—他是该去呢,还是不该去?
来自《权威词典》
2. I was in a quandary about whether to go.
我当时正犹豫到底去不去.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. I was put in a great quandary.
我陷于进退两难的窘境.
来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
4. Carrie hung in a quandary, balancing between decision and helplessness.
嘉莉正左右为难.想下决心, 又觉得无助.
来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
5. As a matter of fact, she was in a most hopeless quandary.