Hello all,

I am hoping to gain a better understanding of the use of the word, "problem," particularly as it relates to the practice of magic. What is its origin? What is its generally accepted definition? What constitutes a problem?

Any thoughts or nods in the right direction are greatly coveted!

Best,
jsbosco

Hello jsbosco,

Etymology has long been my hobby, so your question caught my attention.

The word "problem" in English came to us from Old French in the 14th century. But the root dates back to Latin, which itself derived from the Greek word.

The original meaning was a difficult question proposed for discussion, a riddle, or a scientific topic for investigation.

A good example is in the title of the Sherlock Holmes story, The Problem of Thor Bridge.

An excellent free resource for word origins is the Android app Etymonline, which runs on a smart phone or tablet. It gives a very complete discussion of the word "problem," from which I drew the above comments.

Thomas Henry