riddle

noun (riddle, riddles); verb (riddle, riddles, riddled, riddling)

«riddle» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

A riddle is a puzzle question that needs clever thinking to answer, often a play on words. tree →
A riddle is something hard to understand, a mystery. tree →
Riddled with means full of: «a wall riddled with holes». tree →

In the lessons

a puzzle about a number: clues tell what number is meant; in reading and stories: riddles test cleverness (a sphinx asks a riddle); in everyday life: telling riddles and jokes with friends; phrases: «solve a riddle», «tell a riddle», «talk in riddles» (speak in a way hard to understand)

Examples

Solve the riddle: I am a number, and 5 more than me is 12. tree →
Each riddle in the book gives 3 clues. tree →
She solved 7 riddles in 10 minutes. tree →
Number riddle: I am between 20 and 30 and I am 4 × 6. tree →
Riddle: What has hands but cannot clap? A clock! tree →
The troll asked a riddle before he let them cross. tree →
Why the old car stopped is a riddle to me. tree →
The old tree was riddled with holes. tree →
"Here's a riddle for you, Prince Ivan! tree →

Note

A riddle about a number is an equation in words; work backwards from the clues. Trap: «5 more than me is 12» – take 5 from 12, do not add. Check every clue with your answer.

In Jewish tradition

A hard saying or puzzle; Samson's riddle at his wedding, and Ezekiel's riddle about the eagles.

Interpretation. Prophets sometimes taught in riddles and parables to make the listeners think, and the sages see Samson's riddle as a test of cleverness and trust.

Examples

And they could not in three days declare the riddle. (Prophets JDG.14.14, JPS 1917) tree →
'Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel, (Prophets EZK.17.2, JPS 1917) tree →
And he said unto them: If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. (Prophets JDG.14.18, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

A riddle about a number is an equation in words; work backwards from the clues. Trap: «5 more than me is 12» – take 5 from 12, do not add. Check every clue with your answer.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «riddle» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«riddle» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «riddle» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«riddle» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.

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