riddle 
rid·dle (rid′'l)
noun
- a problem or puzzle in the form of a question, statement, etc. so formulated that some ingenuity is required to solve or answer it; conundrum
- any puzzling, perplexing, or apparently inexplicable person or thing, as a difficult problem or enigmatic saying; enigma
Etymology: ME ridil < OE rædels, akin to rædan, to guess, read
transitive verb -·dled, -·dling
to solve or explain (a riddle)
intransitive verb
to propound riddles; speak enigmatically
rid·dle (rid′'l)
noun
a coarse sieve for grading gravel, separating chaff from grain, etc.
Etymology: ME ridil < OE hriddel, earlier hridder < base of hridrian, to sift, winnow, akin to Ger reiter < IE base *(s)ker-, to cut, separate > harvest
transitive verb -·dled, -·dling
- to sift through such a sieve
- to make many holes in, as by a burst of buckshot; puncture throughout
- to find and show flaws in; criticize and disprove
- to affect every part of; spread throughout riddled with errors
riddle
n.
A difficult problem
problem, puzzle, question, knotty question, doubt, quandary, entanglement, dilemma, embarrassment, perplexity, enigma, confusion, complication, complexity, intricacy, strait, labyrinth, predicament, plight, distraction, bewilderment; see also puzzle 2.Antonyms
simplicity*, clarity, disentanglement. An obscure question to be solved for amusement
mystery, conundrum, puzzle, enigma, charade, rebus, brain teaser, brain twister. Antonyms
answer*, solution, explanation. See syn. study at puzzle.puzzle.
Object
- grate: My father riddling the grate and getting the Rayburn going to produce our hot water.
Converse of object
- solve: Can you help solve the riddle of the cryptic messages found engraved on old Wurzels records?
- unravel: This book seeks to unravel the riddle of legal paradoxes.
- rhyme: Kids discover how smart they are as they solve over 70 rhyming picture riddles and master clever puzzles and games.
- guess: This time can also include a regular activity like guessing a riddle or a song to say hello.
- pose: A riddle posed in the form of architecture: what is there to save?
- resolve: To resolve the riddle of the " UN " , we confidently offer LVT.
Adjective modifier
- ancient: But what about the ancient riddle " Which weighs more?
- hard: Posted at: 11:21 | Author: /Martin_P | Funnies | Permanent link Tue, 03 May 2005 the hardest riddle on the net?
Modifies a noun
- difficulty: The solution is 9 2 7 1 under the hard riddle difficulty setting.
- setting: The solution is 9 2 7 1 under the hard riddle difficulty setting.
Noun used with modifier
- pregnancy: Jennifer Lopez is at the center of a pregnancy riddle.
- picture: They can even make their own I Spy picture riddle.
Preposition: of
- sphinx: This riddle of the Sphinx is, " Do you believe in the gods?
Preposition: with
- woodworm: The old pews appear to be riddled with woodworm; presumably they have been treated.
- inconsistency: His confession is said to be riddled with inconsistencies.
- inaccuracy: The language used is emotive and misleading, and the headline is riddled with factual inaccuracies.
- loophole: It is an inadequate bill, riddled with glaring loopholes.
- bullet: Then, two others that followed were riddled with bullets.
- contradiction: Similarly, the German left is riddled with contradictions.
And hesaiduntothem,Outoftheeatercameforthmeat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.
Created half to rise, and half to fall; Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all; Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurled; The glory, jest, and riddle of the world!
If ye had not plowed with my heifer, yehad not found out my riddle.
Can I expound the skies? How still the Riddle lies!
I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped inside a mystery inside an enigma.But perhaps there is a key; that key is Russian national interest.
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