Hypertext Webster Gateway: "riddle"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Riddle
(Heb. hodah). The oldest and, strictly speaking, the only
example of a riddle was that propounded by Samson (Judg.
14:12-18). The parabolic prophecy in Ezek. 17:2-18 is there
called a "riddle." It was rather, however, an allegory. The word
"darkly" in 1 Cor. 13:12 is the rendering of the Greek enigma;
marg., "in a riddle."
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Riddle \Rid"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Riddled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Riddling}.]
1. To separate, as grain from the chaff, with a riddle; to
pass through a riddle; as, riddle wheat; to riddle coal or
gravel.
2. To perforate so as to make like a riddle; to make many
holes in; as, a house riddled with shot.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Riddle \Rid"dle\, n. [For riddels, s being misunderstood as the
plural ending; OE. ridels, redels. AS. r?dels; akin to D.
raadsel, G. r["a]thsel; fr. AS. r?dan to counsel or advise,
also, to guess. [root]116. Cf. {Read}.]
Something proposed to be solved by guessing or conjecture; a
puzzling question; an ambiguous proposition; an enigma;
hence, anything ambiguous or puzzling.
To wring from me, and tell to them, my secret, That
solved the riddle which I had proposed. --Milton.
'T was a strange riddle of a lady. --Hudibras.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Riddle \Rid"dle\, n. [OE. ridil, AS. hridder; akin to G. reiter,
L. cribrum, and to Gr. ??? to distinguish, separate, and G.
rein clean. See {Crisis}, {Certain}.]
1. A sieve with coarse meshes, usually of wire, for
separating coarser materials from finer, as chaff from
grain, cinders from ashes, or gravel from sand.
2. A board having a row of pins, set zigzag, between which
wire is drawn to straighten it.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Riddle \Rid"dle\, v. t.
To explain; to solve; to unriddle.
Riddle me this, and guess him if you can. --Dryden.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Riddle \Rid"dle\, v. i.
To speak ambiguously or enigmatically. ``Lysander riddels
very prettily.'' --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
riddle
n 1: a difficult problem [syn: {conundrum}, {enigma}, {brain-teaser}]
2: a coarse sieve (as for gravel)
v 1: pierce many times; "The bullets riddled his body"
2: set a riddle
3: separate with a riddle, as grain from chaff [syn: {screen}]
4: speak in riddles
5: explain a riddle
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