A question or statement intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer or meaning, frequently used as a game or pastime; an…

That which forms or ought to form the subject of a discourse; the matter in hand; the point at issue. Now only in to (the) purpose at phrases 7 (cf…

A puzzle; a riddle; an enigmatic statement. Obsolete.

Something proposed for discussion or solution; a problem, a riddle; a parable. Obsolete.

A problem, riddle, enigma. Obsolete.

Something to be divined, a riddle.

An (esp. hard or searching) question or puzzle; (also) the putting of such questions; an interrogation. Cf. apposal, n. 1. Obsolete.

The action of posing or asking a riddle or riddles; an instance of this. Also: a riddle, a puzzle (English regional (northern) in later use).

A pithy or aphoristic utterance; a saying; a maxim; a proverb. Now rare or merged in sense A. 1.

A question beginning with (or consisting of) the word ‘why?’; a question as to the reason of something; hence, a problem, an enigma.

An authoritative decision; a judgement pronounced by a tribunal. dark, hard sentence: a difficult problem. (In Bible translations used to render…

(a) A short composition in prose or verse, in which something is described by intentionally obscure metaphors, in order to afford an exercise for the…

A puzzle, riddle.

As a count noun: an instance of being puzzled, perplexed, bewildered, or confused; a puzzled state. Also: something that puzzles; a puzzle.

A puzzling question; a riddle, enigma.

A person who or thing which puzzles. Also: one who devises or attempts to solve puzzles.

A riddle, a puzzle, an enigma.

A puzzling or perplexing question; a difficult problem; a person who or thing which is hard to understand, an enigma.

figurative. A difficulty which it torments or troubles one greatly to interpret or explain, a thing that puzzles the ingenuity; as ‘a textual…

Something that teases, or causes annoyance; something difficult to deal with, a ‘poser’. colloquial. In Pugilistic slang, an opponent difficult…

Puzzled condition; an instance or cause of this; = puzzlement, n.

A riddle in the form of a question the answer to which involves a pun or play on words: called in 1769 conundrumical question.

A difficult or perplexing question; a puzzle. Also: a tricky or intractable problem.

A riddle, a puzzle, an enigma; (also) the action of posing or asking a riddle.

Something (e.g. a question, a task imposed, a reply) that ‘stumps’ one; a poser.

Something that tickles or is used for tickling. A thing (or person) difficult to deal with or understand; a teaser; a puzzler (colloquial).

colloquial. Something which perplexes or impedes a person; a difficult problem, question, or issue.

a difficult problem; a puzzle, often one designed as a challenge or for amusement.

colloquial. A poser, settler, floorer. Cf. gruel, v. 1.

figurative. A question, a query, a doubt; (also) an enigma, an enigmatic person.

= brain-teaser n.; also attributive.

something that taxes the mind; a complicated problem.

A thing which challenges one's mental faculties; spec. a mental puzzle.