1.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. "Not being able to promote them (the interests of life) on account of the difficulty of the region."
2.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. "They lie under some difficulties by reason of the emperor's displeasure."
3.A controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a cavil. "Measures for terminating all local difficulties."
4.Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; usually in the plural; as, to be in difficulties. "In days of difficulty and pressure."