riddle

«riddle» in Mova's judaism dictionary: a puzzle question that needs clever thinking to answer… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

noun (riddle, riddles); verb (riddle, riddles, riddled, riddling)

meaning for a pupil

1) A riddle is a puzzle question that needs clever thinking to answer, often a play on words. tree →

2) A riddle is something hard to understand, a mystery. tree →

3) Riddled with means full of: «a wall riddled with holes». tree →

sense in the lessons

In the Tanakh and 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. In the primary 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

• And they could not in three days declare the riddle. (Prophets JDG.14.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• 'Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel, (Prophets EZK.17.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• 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 →
• Solve the riddle: I am a number, and 5 more than me is 12. tree →
• Each riddle in the book gives 3 clues. tree →
• She solved 7 riddles in 10 minutes. tree →
• Number riddle: I am between 20 and 30 and I am 4 × 6. tree →
• Riddle: What has hands but cannot clap? A clock! tree →
• The troll asked a riddle before he let them cross. tree →
• Why the old car stopped is a riddle to me. tree →
• The old tree was riddled with holes. tree →
• "Here's a riddle for you, Prince Ivan! tree →

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 the corpora

• And they could not in three days declare the riddle.
• And he said unto them: If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
• 'Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel,
• So play, laugh and enjoy beating the bot at your own riddles, and check anything that matters.
• Knowing the answer to a famous riddle is not the same as solving a new one.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «riddle» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.