riddle

¹

[rid-l]

noun

1. a question or statement so framed as to exercise one's ingenuity in answering it or discovering its meaning; conundrum.

2. a puzzling question, problem, or matter.

3. a puzzling thing or person.

4. any enigmatic or dark saying or speech.

verb (used without object)

riddled, riddling 

1. to propound riddles; speak enigmatically.

riddle

²

[rid-l]

verb (used with object)

riddled, riddling 

1. to pierce with many holes, suggesting those of a sieve.

   to riddle the target.

2. to fill or affect with (something undesirable, weakening, etc.).

   a government riddled with graft.

3. to impair or refute completely by persistent verbal attacks.

   to riddle a person's reputation.

4. to sift through a riddle, as gravel; screen.

noun

1. a coarse sieve, as one for sifting sand in a foundry.

riddle

¹

/ ˈrɪdəl /

verb

1. (usually foll by with) to pierce or perforate with numerous holes

   riddled with bullets

2. to damage or impair

3. to put through a sieve; sift

4. to fill or pervade

   the report was riddled with errors

noun

1. a sieve, esp a coarse one used for sand, grain, etc

riddle

²

/ ˈrɪdəl /

noun

1. a question, puzzle, or verse so phrased that ingenuity is required for elucidation of the answer or meaning; conundrum

2. a person or thing that puzzles, perplexes, or confuses; enigma

verb

1. to solve, explain, or interpret (a riddle or riddles)

2. (intr) to speak in riddles

Other Word Forms

• riddler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of riddle¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun redel, redels, Old English rǣdels(e) “counsel, opinion, imagination, riddle” + -els(e) noun suffix; cognate with German Rätsel, Dutch raadsel; rede

Origin of riddle²

First recorded before 1100; Middle English noun riddil, Old English hriddel, variant of hridder, hrīder; cognate with German Reiter; akin to Latin crībrum “sieve”; verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of riddle¹

Old English hriddel a sieve, variant of hridder ; related to Latin crībrum sieve

Origin of riddle²

Old English rǣdelle, rǣdelse , from rǣd counsel; related to Old Saxon rādislo , German Rätsel

Synonym Study

See puzzle.

Example Sentences

"We can therefore explain why some viscous magmas flow out gently instead of exploding, despite their high gas content -- a riddle that's been puzzling us for a long time," says Bachmann.

Read more on Science Daily

He had a habit of making grouchy, riddling remarks, but he had also shown himself to be a friend to Penelope and the children, at least when he chose to be.

Read more on Literature

Despite all the days’ mysteries, riddles, and conundrums, the realization that, in Simon, she had found a true friend, was enough to cheer Penelope to the core.

Read more on Literature

Price was not the only one devoting much of his life to attempting to solve the riddle of the mechanism.

Read more on Literature

Large sandbags protect critical infrastructure, some riddled with holes from shrapnel.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• complexity 
• conundrum 
• dilemma 
• enigma 
• mystery 
• puzzle 
• quandary 
• teaser