riddle1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈrɪd(ə)l/

noun

  • a question or statement intentionally phrased so as to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer or meaning: they started asking riddles and telling jokes
  • a person or thing that is difficult to understand or explain: the riddle of her death

verb

[no object] archaic
  • speak in or pose riddles: he who knows not how to riddle
  • [with two objects] solve or explain (a riddle) to (someone): riddle me this then

Phrases

talk (or speak) in riddles

express oneself in an ambiguous or puzzling manner: you’re talking in riddles—do you mean his mother?

Derivatives

riddler

noun

Origin:

Old English rǣdels, rǣdelse 'opinion, conjecture, riddle'; related to Dutch raadsel, German Rätsel, also to read