the state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness; arduousness; -- opposed to easiness or facility; as, the difficulty of a task or enterprise; a work of difficulty.-something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill and perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment; as, the difficulties of a science; difficulties in theology.-a controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a cavil.-embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; -- usually in the plural; as, to be in difficulties.