[UN-2 3. Cf. G. enträtseln.] trans. To solve, explain (a mystery, etc.). (Cf. RIDDLE v.1 2.)
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. vii. But nowe Amphialus helped to unriddle his doubts; for he [etc.].
1634. Peacham, Compl. Gent., xii. 111. I will give you … examples of these, with which … you may easily unriddle the rest.
1648. Prynne, Plea for Lords, 63. Let him … unriddle and assoyle … his owne Dilemma.
1754. Addison, Spect., No. 567, ¶ 7. If any sagacious Person can fairly unriddle it, I will print his Explanation.
1785. Reid, Intell. Powers, IV. ii. 371. Take this description altogether, and it would require an Œdipus to unriddle it.
1820. Keats, Hyperion, II. 150. No, no-where can [I] unriddle … why ye … Should cower beneath untremendous might.
1858. Merivale, Rom. Emp., liii. VI. 218. To unriddle some of the perplexing questions.
1885. Miss Braddon, Wyllard’s Weird, I. 194. If we can unriddle the railway mystery, all may yet come right.
refl. 1653. R. C[odrington], Lloyd’s Marrow of Hist., 1. This at first may seem a paradox; but upon a deliberate consideration it will easily unriddle itself.
absol. a. 1642. Suckling, Goblins, I. i. Pray, unriddle.
1710. Parnell, Hermit, 207. Confess th’ Almighty just, And where you can’t unriddle, learn to trust.
1768. H. Walpole, Myst. Mother, IV. vi. Unriddle, priest. My soul is too impatient To wait [etc.].
Hence Unriddling vbl. sb.
a. 1680. Butler, Char. Religion, Wks. (1908), 306. They … are wonderfull acute at unriddling of Mysteries.
1821. Byron, Juan, III. xxviii. The cause being past his guessing or unriddling.
