Riddle word meaning and definition

[noun] a coarse sieve (as for gravel)
[noun] a difficult problem
[verb] set a riddle
[verb] explain a riddle
[verb] speak in riddles
[verb] pierce many times; "The bullets riddled his body"
[verb] separate with a riddle, as grain from chaff

\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.
\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.
\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.
\Rid"dle\, v. t. To explain; to solve; to unriddle. Riddle me this, and guess him if you can. --Dryden.
\Rid"dle\, v. i. To speak ambiguously or enigmatically. ``Lysander riddels very prettily.'' --Shak.

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