RIDDLINGLY

Etymology

Adverb

riddlingly (comparative more riddlingly, superlative most riddlingly)

In the form of a riddle.

Source: Wiktionary

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RIDDLING

Rid"dling, a.

Definition: Speaking in a riddle or riddles; containing a riddle. "Riddling triplets." Tennyson.

– Rid"dling, adv.

RIDDLE

Rid"dle, n. Etym: [OE. ridil, AS. hridder; akin to G. reiter, L. cribrum, and to Gr. 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. Etym: [For riddels, s being misunderstood as the plural ending; OE. ridels, redels. AS. rraadsel, G. räthsel; fr. AS. r to counsel or advise, also, to guess. sq. root116. Cf. Read.]

Definition: 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.

Definition: To explain; to solve; to unriddle. Riddle me this, and guess him if you can. Dryden.

Rid"dle, v. i.

Definition: To speak ambiguously or enigmatically. "Lysander riddels very prettily." Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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