riddle

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Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Synonyms 1.2.1.2 Derived terms 1.2.1.3 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Verb 1.3.1.1 Translations 1.4 Anagrams

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪdəl

[edit] Etymology 1

Middle English redel, redels, from Old English rǣdels, rǣdelse (“‘counsel", "opinion", "imagination", "riddle’”), from Proto-Germanic *rǣdislijan (“‘counsel, conjecture’”). Akin to Old Saxon rādisli (Dutch raadsel), Old High German rādisle (German Rätsel "riddle"), Old English rǣdan "to read, advise, interpret"

[edit] Noun

riddle (plural riddles)

1. A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature, such as "It's black, and white, and red all over. What is it?"
2. A sieve.

[edit] Synonyms

• enigma
• conundrum
• brain-teaser

[edit] Derived terms

• riddler
• riddle stick
• a riddle wrapped up in an enigma

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

Middle English ridelen "to sift" from riddil, ridelle "sieve" from Old English hriddel "sieve", alteration of earlier hridder, hrīder from Proto-Germanic *hridan (“‘sieve’”) from Proto-Germanic *hrid- (“‘to shake’”) from Proto-Indo-European *krei. Akin to German Reiter "sieve", Old Norse hreinn "pure, clean", Old High German hreini "pure, clean", Gothic hrains "clean, pure". More at rinse

[edit] Verb

to riddle (third-person singular simple present riddles, present participle riddling, simple past and past participle riddled)

1. to fill with holes

   The shots from his gun began to riddle the target.

2. to fill or spread throughout; to pervade

   Your argument is riddled with errors.

3. to solve, answer, or explicate a riddle or question

   Riddle me this...., meaning Answer the following question.

4. to put something through a sieve

   You have to riddle the gravel before you lay it on the road.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: ddeilr
• dreidl