riddle
nomverbenomverbenomverbecourant dans les dialogues
- //ˈɹɪdəl//
- /[ˈɹʷɪdəl] ~ [ˈɹʷɪdl̩]/
- //ˈɹɪɾəl//
- /[ˈɹʷɪɾəl] ~ [ˈɹʷɪɾl̩]/
A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.
nom
- 1
A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.
Here's a riddle: It's black, and white, and red all over. What is it?
To wring from me and tell to them my ſecret, / That ſolv'd the riddle which I had propos'd.
Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."
I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me
- 2
An ancient verbal, poetic, or literary form, in which, rather than a rhyme scheme, there are parallel opposing expressions with a hidden meaning.
Étymologie
From Middle English redel, redels, from Old English rǣdels, rǣdelse (“counsel, opinion, imagination, riddle”), from Proto-West Germanic *rādislī (“counsel, conjecture”). Analyzable as rede (“advice”) + -le. Akin to Old English rǣdan (“to read, advise, interpret”). Cognate with Dutch raadsel, German Rätsel.
verbe
- 1
To speak ambiguously or enigmatically.
- 2
To solve, answer, or explicate a riddle or question.
Riddle me this.
nom
- 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 with a row of pins, set zigzag, between which wire is drawn to straighten it.
Étymologie
From Middle English riddil, ridelle (“sieve”), from Old English hriddel (“sieve”), alteration of earlier hridder, hrīder, from Proto-West Germanic *hrīdrā, from Proto-Germanic *hrīdrą, *hrīdrǭ (“sieve”), from Proto-Germanic *hrid- (“to shake”), from Proto-Indo-European *krey-. Akin to German Reiter (“sieve”), Old Norse hreinn (“pure, clean”), Old High German hreini (“pure, clean”), Gothic 𐌷𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃 (hrains, “clean, pure”). More at rinse.
verbe
- 1
To put something through a riddle or sieve; to sieve; to sift.
You have to riddle the gravel before you lay it on the road.
In its finest form – two years old or more – leaf mould can be riddled (sieved) and used, mixed 50/50 with sand, to make fine potting compost for seeds and cuttings.
- 2
To fill with holes like a riddle.
The shots from his gun began to riddle the targets.
New Alresford is constantly mispronounced, T-shaped, honeycombed with cellars, packed with antique shops, riddled with woodworm, surrounded by watercress. The name - which means 'ford by the alders' - is pronounced 'Allsford'; and no one ever uses 'New', though they do call the adjoining village Old Alresford.
- 3
figuréTo fill or spread throughout; to pervade (with something destructive or weakening).
Your argument is riddled with errors.
O perplex'd diſcompoſition, O ridling diſtemper, O miſerable condition of Man.
nom
- 1
obsolèteA curtain; bedcurtain.
- 2
One of the pair of curtains enclosing an altar on the north and south.
Étymologie
From Middle English riddel, ridel, redel, rudel, from Old French ridel ("a plaited stuff; curtain"; > Medieval Latin ridellus), from rider (“to wrinkle”), from Old High German rīdan (“to turn; wrap; twist; wrinkle”). More at writhe. Doublet of rideau.
verbe
- 1
obsolèteTo plait.
Étymologie
From Middle English ridlen, from the noun (see above).
Formes
- pluriel
- riddles
- passé
- riddled
- participe passé
- riddled
- participe présent
- riddling
- 3ᵉ personne du singulier
- riddles
riddle · A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.
Riddle · A surname.Riddles · A surname.ride · To transport oneself by sitting on and directing a horse,…