דִּילְמָא, lest, perhaps. Targ. Deut. VII, 22; a. v. fr.—Ab. Zar. 35ᵃ ד׳ איכא וכ׳ lest there may be one who &c. Ber. 29ᵇ מסתפינא ד׳ וכ׳ I am afraid, lest I may become confused; a. fr.
דִּילְמָא, (without the meaning of apprehension) perhaps, it may be. R. Hash. 3ᵃ; a. e. כִּי has four meanings: אי ד׳ אלא הּאif, perhaps (lest), but, because. Ber. 2ᵇ top ד׳ ביאת וכ׳ is it not possible that the word uba indicates the arrival of his sun (the morning of the eighth day)? Ib. או ד׳ or may it not be; a. v. fr.—[Pesik. Shek. p. 13ᵃ דד׳, corr. דילמא, as Tanḥ. Ki Thissa 5.]