Riddle Meaning
/ˈɹɪdəl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.
nounAn ancient verbal, poetic, or literary form, in which, rather than a rhyme scheme, there are parallel opposing expressions with a hidden meaning.
Sentence Examples
If he could not answer the riddle, he would be eaten.
I finally penetrated the meaning of the riddle.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The smart child quickly solved the tricky ____ that her teacher gave her.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ancient inscription turned out to be a ____ whose solution pointed to the location of the treasure.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"12 ¶ And Samson said vnto them, I will now put foorth a riddle vnto you: if you can certeinly declare it me, within the seuen dayes of the feast, and finde it out, then I will giue you thirtie sheetes, and thirtie change of garments:
13 But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall yee giue me thirtie sheetes, and thirtie change of garments. And they said vnto him, Put foorth thy riddle, that we may heare it.
14 And hee said vnto them, Out of the eater came foorth meate, aud out of the strong came foorth sweetnesse. And they could not in three dayes expound the riddle."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Judges 14:12–14:
"To wring from me and tell to them my ſecret, / That ſolv'd the riddle which I had propos'd."
— 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 72:
"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.""
— 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
"I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me"
— 1992, “Rain When I Die”, performed by Alice in Chains:
"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."
— 2014 April 8, Helen Yemm, “Thorny problems: How can I revive a forsythia hedge? [print version 5 April 2014, p. G9]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Gardening), London:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The smart child quickly solved the tricky ____ that her teacher gave her.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ancient inscription turned out to be a ____ whose solution pointed to the location of the treasure.