riddle Hear it!

riddle1 definition

rid·dle (rid′'l)

noun

  1. 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
  2. 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 riddled -·dled, riddling -·dling

to solve or explain (a riddle)

intransitive verb

to propound riddles; speak enigmatically
riddle2 definition

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 riddled -·dled, riddling -·dling

  1. to sift through such a sieve
    1. to make many holes in, as by a burst of buckshot; puncture throughout
    2. to find and show flaws in; criticize and disprove
    3. to affect every part of; spread throughout riddled with errors

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

riddle Synonyms

riddle

n.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

riddle Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • solve: Can you help solve the riddle of the cryptic messages found engraved on old Wurzels records?

Adjective modifier

  • ancient: But what about the ancient riddle " Which weighs more?

Modifies a noun

  • difficulty: 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.

Preposition: of

  • sphinx: This riddle of the Sphinx is, " Do you believe in the gods?
riddle usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

riddle quotes

And hesaiduntothem,Outoftheeatercameforthmeat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

-Bible (Old Testament)

If ye had not plowed with my heifer, yehad not found out my riddle.

-Bible (Old Testament)

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.

-Churchill, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer

riddle quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"riddle." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/riddle>

APA Style

riddle. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/riddle

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment