riddle

¹rid·dle

noun \ˈri-d^əl\

Definition of RIDDLE

1

: a mystifying, misleading, or puzzling question posed as a problem to be solved or guessed : conundrum, enigma

2

: something or someone difficult to understand

Origin of RIDDLE

Middle English redels, ridel, from Old English rǣdelse opinion, conjecture, riddle; akin to Old English rǣdan to interpret — more at read

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with RIDDLE

diddle, fiddle, griddle, middle, piddle, twiddle

²riddle

verb

rid·dledrid·dling \ˈrid-liŋ, ˈri-d^əl-iŋ\

Definition of RIDDLE

intransitive verb

: to speak in or propound riddles

transitive verb

1

: to find the solution of : explain

2

: to set a riddle for : puzzle

— rid·dler \ˈrid-lər, ˈri-d^əl-ər\ noun

First Known Use of RIDDLE

1571

Rhymes with RIDDLE

fiddle, middle, twiddle

³riddle

noun

Definition of RIDDLE

: a coarse sieve

Origin of RIDDLE

Middle English riddil, from Old English hriddel; akin to Latin cribrum sieve, cernere to sift — more at certain

First Known Use: before 12th century

⁴riddle

transitive verb

rid·dledrid·dling \ˈrid-liŋ, ˈri-d^əl-iŋ\

Definition of RIDDLE

1

: to separate (as grain from chaff) with a riddle : screen

2

: to pierce with many holes <riddled the car with bullets>

3

: to spread through : permeate <a book riddled with errors>

First Known Use of RIDDLE

13th century

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

riddle

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Deliberately enigmatic or ambiguous question requiring a thoughtful and often witty answer. The riddle is a form of guessing game that has been a part of the folklore of most cultures from ancient times. Western scholars generally recognize two main kinds of riddle: the descriptive riddle, usually describing an animal, person, plant, or object in an intentionally enigmatic manner (thus an egg is “a little white house without door or window”); and the shrewd or witty question. A classical Greek example of the latter type is “What is the strongest of all things?”—“Love: iron is strong, but the blacksmith is stronger, and love can subdue the blacksmith.”