Riddle

Riddle - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

(Heb. hodah). The oldest and, strictly speaking, the only example of a riddle was that propounded by Samson (Judg. 14:12-18). The parabolic prophecy in Ezek. 17:2-18 is there called a "riddle." It was rather, however, an allegory. The word "darkly" in 1 Cor. 13:12 is the rendering of the Greek enigma; marg., "in a riddle."

Riddle - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

RID'DLE, n. [See Cradle.]

An instrument for cleaning grain, being a large sieve with a perforated button, which permits the grain to pass through it, but retains the chaff.

RID'DLE, v.t. To separate, as grain from the chaff with a riddle; as, to riddle wheat. [Note. The machines now used have nearly superseded the riddle.]

RID'DLE, n. [See Read.]

1. An enigma; something proposed for conjecture, or that is to be solved by conjecture; a puzzling question; an ambiguous proposition. Judg 14.

2. Any thing ambiguous or puzzling.

RID'DLE, v.t. To solve; to explain; but we generally use unriddle, which is more proper.

Riddle me this, and guess him if you can.

RID'DLE, v.i. To speak ambiguously, obscurely or enigmatically.