riddle

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 The machines now used have nearly superseded the riddle.]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. Judges 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.