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Riddle vs Nuance - What's the difference?

riddle | nuance |

As nouns the difference between riddle and nuance

is that riddle is a verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature while nuance is a minor distinction.

As a verb riddle

is to speak ambiguously or enigmatically.

As a proper noun Riddle

is {{surname|lang=en}.

riddle

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), (m), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.
  • :
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:To wring from me, and tell to them, my secret, / That solved the riddle which I had proposed.
  • *
  • *:Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ΒΆ ("I never) understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."
  • Synonyms
    * enigma, conundrum, brain-teaser
    Derived terms
    * riddler * riddle stick * a riddle wrapped up in an enigma

    Verb

    (riddl)
  • To speak ambiguously or enigmatically.
  • To solve, answer, or explicate a riddle or question
  • Riddle me this'', meaning ''Answer the following question.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), . More at (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sieve with coarse meshes, usually of wire, for separating coarser materials from finer, as chaff from grain, cinders from ashes, or gravel from sand.
  • A board with a row of pins, set zigzag, between which wire is drawn to straighten it.
  • Verb

    (riddl)
  • To put something through a .
  • You have to riddle the gravel before you lay it on the road.
  • * '>citation
  • To fill with holes like a .
  • The machinegun fire began to riddle the poor Afghanis.
  • To fill or spread throughout; to pervade.
  • Your argument is riddled with errors.

    Anagrams

    * (l)

    nuance

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A minor distinction.
  • Subtlety or fine detail.
  • Understanding the basics is easy; appreciating the nuances takes years.
  • * 1901: Alpheus Spring Packard, Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution
  • ...the richer our collections become, the more numerous are the proofs that all is more or less shaded (nuance ), that the remarkable differences become obliterated...

    Derived terms

    * nuanced