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# 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

1. A riddle is a puzzle question that needs clever thinking to answer, often a play on words. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#m1)
2. A riddle is something hard to understand, a mystery. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#m2)
3. Riddled with means full of: «a wall riddled with holes». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#m3)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#x1)
- Each riddle in the book gives 3 clues. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#x2)
- She solved 7 riddles in 10 minutes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#x3)
- Number riddle: I am between 20 and 30 and I am 4 × 6. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#x4)
- Riddle: What has hands but cannot clap? A clock! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#x5)
- The troll asked a riddle before he let them cross. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#x6)
- Why the old car stopped is a riddle to me. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#x7)
- The old tree was riddled with holes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#x8)
- "Here's a riddle for you, Prince Ivan! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/#x9)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x1)
- 'Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel, (Prophets EZK.17.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x2)
- 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x3)

### 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](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/riddle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«riddle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/riddle.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «riddle» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«riddle» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/riddle.html) on Mova free.