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)

, rid·dled, rid·dling.

1. to propound riddles; speak enigmatically.

riddle

²

[ rid-l ]

verb (used with object)

, rid·dled, rid·dling.

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 /

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

riddle

²

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈriddler, noun
• ˈriddler, 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 rǣdelle, rǣdelse , from rǣd counsel; related to Old Saxon rādislo , German Rätsel

Origin of riddle²

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

Synonym Study

See puzzle.

Example Sentences

The rise of Tibet and the Himalayas along its southern fringes are enduring riddles that SinoProbe II data might be able to crack, says Simon Klemperer, a geophysicist at Stanford University.

From Science Magazine

The second half continued to be riddled with errors but Chelsea eventually took advantage and were able to wrap up victory when not at their best.

From BBC

A review of the quarry’s haul reveals a long length of vertebrae from a single animal that connects the two and solves the riddle: Gnatalie, Chiappe confirms, is indeed a previously undiscovered species.

From Los Angeles Times

The exercise has been riddled with problems – from pilot shortages that have led to massive flight cancellations, to Vistara crew going on mass sick leave over plans to align their salary structures with Air India.

From BBC

Pictures from the scene in Place de Coimbra, an area of the city known for drug-related crimes, showed the restaurant's facade riddled with bullet holes.

From BBC

Related Words

• corrupt
• infest
• mar
• pepper
• pervade
• puncture