1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a question or statement testing ingenuity in divining its answer or meaning.
2 a puzzling fact or thing or person.
--v.
1. intr. speak in or propound riddles.
2 tr. solve or explain (a riddle).
Derivatives:
riddler n.
Etymology: OE r{aelig}dels, r{aelig}delse opinion, riddle, rel. to READ 2. v. & n.
--v.tr. (usu. foll. by with)
1. make many holes in, esp. with gunshot.
2 (in passive) fill; spread through; permeate (was riddled with errors).
3 pass through a riddle.
--n. a coarse sieve.
Etymology: OE hriddel, earlier hrider: cf. hridrian sift