riddle
1 of 4noun (1)
riddle
2 of 4verb (1)
intransitive verb
transitive verb
riddle
3 of 4noun (2)
riddle
4 of 4verb (2)
transitive verb
Did you know?
Riddle Me This
Riddle comes from an Old English word meaning "opinion" or "conjecture" that is related to a verb meaning "to interpret."
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- closed book
- conundrum
- enigma
- head-scratcher
- mystery
- mystification
- puzzle
- puzzlement
- secret
- why
Verb (2)
- bore
- drill
- hole
- perforate
- pierce
- punch
- puncture
Word History
Noun (1)
Middle English redels, ridel, from Old English rǣdelse opinion, conjecture, riddle; akin to Old English rǣdan to interpret — more at read
Noun (2)
Middle English ridel, going back to Old English hriddel (attested once), alteration (by dissimilation or suffix substitution) of hridder, hrīder, going back to Germanic *hrīdra- (whence also Old Saxon hrīdra "sieve," Old High German rītera), going back to Indo-European *krei̯(h1)̯-dhro- or *krei̯(h1)̯-tro- (whence Latin crībrum "sieve," Old Irish críathar, Old Welsh cruitr "winnowing fan"), from *krei̯(h1)- "sift, separate" + *-dhro-, *-tro-, suffixes of instrument — more at certain entry 1
Note: See note at acetabulum.
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
1571, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Noun (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
riddle 1 of 2
noun
riddle
2 of 2verb
riddles 1 of 2
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- mysteries
- puzzles
- enigmas
- conundrums
- secrets
- puzzlements
- mystifications
- problems
- brainteasers
- whys
- challenges
- closed books
- head-scratchers
- stumpers
- perplexities
- matters
- posers
- troubles
- cases
- knots
riddles
2 of 2verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- drills
- holes
- punches
- punctures
- pokes
- pierces
- bores
- perforates
- taps
- cuts
- hollows
- pricks
- grooves
- prickles
- broaches
- slits
- excavates
- breaks
- penetrates
- slashes
- splits
- gashes
- ruptures
- notches
- rends
- gouges
- burrows (into)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- seals
- fills
- plugs
- patches
Synonyms & Similar Words
- suffuses
- penetrates
- floods
- interpenetrates
- pervades
- transfuses
- permeates
- percolates (into)
- passes (into)
- steeps
- fills (up)
- impregnates
- gluts
- infuses
- imbues
- diffuses (through)
- saturates
- soaks
- drenches