riddle
1
[ rid-l ]
/ ˈrɪd l /
noun
a question or statement so framed as to exercise one's ingenuity in answering it or discovering its meaning; conundrum.
a puzzling question, problem, or matter.
a puzzling thing or person.
any enigmatic or dark saying or speech.
verb (used without object), rid·dled, rid·dling.
to propound riddles; speak enigmatically.
Origin of riddle
1
before 1000; Middle English
redel, redels (noun), Old English
rǣdels(e) counsel, opinion, imagination, riddle (
rǣd(an) to counsel,
rede +
-els(e) deverbal noun suffix) with loss of
-s- in ME through confusion with the plural form of the noun suffix
-el
-le (cf.
burial); cognate with German
Rätsel, Dutch
raadsel
Words nearby riddle
rid,
rid of,
ridable,
riddance,
ridden,
riddle,
ride,
ride down,
ride for a fall,
ride hellbent for leather,
ride herd on
Definition for riddle (2 of 2)
riddle
2
[ rid-l ]
/ ˈrɪd l /
verb (used with object), rid·dled, rid·dling.
to pierce with many holes, suggesting those of a sieve: to riddle the target.
to fill or affect with (something undesirable, weakening, etc.): a government riddled with graft.
to impair or refute completely by persistent verbal attacks: to riddle a person's reputation.
to sift through a riddle, as gravel; screen.
noun
a coarse sieve, as one for sifting sand in a foundry.
Origin of riddle
2
before 1100; (noun) Middle English
riddil, Old English
hriddel, variant of
hridder, hrīder; cognate with German
Reiter; akin to Latin
crībrum sieve; (v.) Middle English
ridlen to sift, derivative of the noun
Example sentences from the Web for riddle
British Dictionary definitions for riddle (1 of 2)
riddle
1
/ (ˈrɪdəl) /
noun
a question, puzzle, or verse so phrased that ingenuity is required for elucidation of the answer or meaning; conundrum
a person or thing that puzzles, perplexes, or confuses; enigma
verb
to solve, explain, or interpret (a riddle or riddles)
(intr)
to speak in riddles
Derived forms of riddle
riddler, nounWord Origin for riddle
Old English
rǣdelle, rǣdelse, from
rǣd counsel; related to Old Saxon
rādislo, German
Rätsel
British Dictionary definitions for riddle (2 of 2)
riddle
2
/ (ˈrɪdəl) /
verb (tr)
(usually foll by with)
to pierce or perforate with numerous holes
riddled with bullets
to damage or impair
to put through a sieve; sift
to fill or pervade
the report was riddled with errors
noun
a sieve, esp a coarse one used for sand, grain, etc
Derived forms of riddle
riddler, nounWord Origin for riddle
Old English
hriddel a sieve, variant of
hridder; related to Latin
crībrum sieve