riddle

Where does the word "riddle" come from? It comes from Old English rǣdels, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Riddle’s story begins in Old English: rǣdels meant “riddle, counsel.” From rǣdan 'to read, guess, interpret'; the Exeter Book, copied in the late 900s, preserves around ninety Old English riddles. It reached English by 1300s as riddle. The final s was taken for a plural ending and dropped, while similar words like 'alms' and 'riches' kept theirs. Today, riddle means a question or statement phrased as a puzzle.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · 900s rǣdels "riddle, counsel", from rǣdan 'to read, guess, interpret'; the Exeter Book, copied in the late 900s, preserves around ninety Old English riddles.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s riddle "puzzling question", the final s was taken for a plural ending and dropped, while similar words like 'alms' and 'riches' kept theirs.