1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Predicament

PREDICAMENT, now used only in the sense of a dangerous or unpleasant position or situation. It meant properly that which is " predicated " or affirmed (Lat. praedicare) of anything, in logic, one of the ten Aristotelian categories (see Category), and so any definite state or condition. The use of " predicament " in the sense of " bad predicament," without the limiting adjective, is paralleled by " plight," for " bad plight," " success " for " good success."