Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

[Origin lost: in 1645 (sense 3) referred to as an Oxford term; possibly originating in some university joke, or as a parody of some Latin term of the schools, which would agree with its unfixed form in 17-18th c. It is doubtful whether Nash's use (sense 1) is the original.]  

[[[Origin]] lost: in 1645 (sense 3) referred to as an Oxford term; possibly originating in some university joke, or as a [[parody]] of some [[Latin]] term of the schools, which would agree with its unfixed form in 17-18th c. It is doubtful whether Nash's use (sense 1) is the original.]  

==Definition==

==Definition==

*1. Applied abusively to a person. (? Pedant, crotchet-monger, or ninny.) Obs.

*1. Applied [[abuse|abusively]] to a [[person]]. (? Pedant, crotchet-monger, or ninny.) Obs.

*2. A whim, crotchet, maggot, conceit. Obs.

*2. A whim, crotchet, maggot, conceit. Obs.

*3. A pun or word-play depending on similarity of sound in words of different meaning. Obs.

*3. A pun or [[word]]-play depending on similarity of [[sound]] in words of different [[meaning]]. Obs.

*4. A riddle in the form of a question the answer to which involves a pun or play on words: called in 1769 conundrumical question.    b. Any puzzling question or problem; an enigmatical statement.

*4. A [[riddle]] in the form of a question the answer to which involves a pun or play on words: called in 1769 conundrumical question.    b. Any puzzling question or problem; an [[enigma]]tical statement.

*5. A thing that one is puzzled to name, a ‘what-d'ye-call-it’. rare.

*5. A [[thing]] that one is puzzled to name, a ‘what-d'ye-call-it’. rare.

*6. Comb., as conundrum-game, -making, -monger (see prec. 4), -party.

*6. Comb., as conundrum-[[game]], -making, -monger (see prec. 4), -party.

Hence, conundrumed, grown crotchety, slightly crazed; conundrumical a., whimsical, fantastic, crotchety; also, of the nature of a conundrum (sense 4); conundrumize v. intr., to make conundrums

Hence, conundrumed, grown crotchety, slightly crazed; conundrumical a., whimsical, fantastic, crotchety; also, of the [[nature]] of a conundrum (sense 4); conundrumize v. intr., to make conundrums

==Description==

==Description==

'''Conundrums''' are problems of several types. They may be riddles with a pun for an answer. They may be puzzling problems that are complicated with intricate [[features]]. And they may be presented in the [[fashion]] of a rhetorical question, but with only conjecture for an answer.

'''Conundrums''' are problems of several types. They may be riddles with a pun for an answer. They may be puzzling problems that are complicated with intricate [[features]]. And they may be presented in the [[fashion]] of a rhetorical question, but with only conjecture for an answer.