situation

noun

Etymology: From Middle English situacioun, situacion, from Middle French situation, from Medieval Latin situatio (“position, situation”), from situare (“to locate, place”), from Latin situs (“a site”). By surface analysis, situate + -ion.

1. The combination of circumstances at a given moment; a state of affairs.

   “The United States is in an awkward situation with debt default looming.”

   “Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.”

2. The way in which something is positioned vis-à-vis its surroundings.

   “The Botanical Gardens are in a delightful situation on the river bank.”

   “[…]he being naturally an underground animal by birth and breeding, the situation of Badger's house exactly suited him and made him feel at home; while the Rat, who slept every night in a bedroom the windows of which opened on a breezy river, naturally felt the atmosphere still and oppressive.”

3. The place in which something is situated; a location.

   “[…] one of the most pleasant situations in America. With the exception of one melancholy season, no town in the union, of its size, has had a greater share of the inestimable blessing of health.”

   “[Hibíscus] speciòsus is the most splendid, and deserves a situation in every garden.”

4. Position or status with regard to conditions and circumstances.
5. A position of employment; a post.

   “‘Let me hear another sound from you,’ said Scrooge, ‘and you’ll keep your Christmas by losing your situation!”

   “When he was nineteen, he suddenly left the 'Co-op' office, and got a situation in Nottingham.”

6. A difficult or unpleasant set of circumstances; a problem.

   “Boss, we've got a situation here…”

7. An individual movie theater.

   “This survey includes all key situations (including Paramount Gulf Theaters) as well as suburban runs and small-town situations.”

   “[…] Craterian theatre, with a full-scale advance campaign and preliminary screenings held for opinion-makers. Results and reactions will be closely studied and, if popular, the idea will be extended to other situations.”

8. An outfit, garment, or look.

   “She is working some sort of amazing burgundy chiffon situation with gold piping.”