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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
What is the meaning of 'riddled' in this sentence?
Hi everybody,
When reading a book on the Cold War today I came across a sentence which, in my opinion, is very confusing. Here it is:
--- 'Major General Curtis LeMay riddled a different oracle from the ashes of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.' (Dark Sun: The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb) ---
Really, I don't know how I should interpret the word 'riddled' here. If it means 'speak in riddles', then why 'oracle'? And the other seemingly suitable meaning of it, that is, 'explain a riddle', doesn't really make sense in this context either.
So, can someone be kind enough to put this sentence into plain English for me please? I'll greatly appreciate that.
Many thanks in advance,
A new learner of the English language.
When reading a book on the Cold War today I came across a sentence which, in my opinion, is very confusing. Here it is:
--- 'Major General Curtis LeMay riddled a different oracle from the ashes of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.' (Dark Sun: The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb) ---
Really, I don't know how I should interpret the word 'riddled' here. If it means 'speak in riddles', then why 'oracle'? And the other seemingly suitable meaning of it, that is, 'explain a riddle', doesn't really make sense in this context either.
So, can someone be kind enough to put this sentence into plain English for me please? I'll greatly appreciate that.
Many thanks in advance,
A new learner of the English language.
Top answer
Anonymous Really, I don't know how I should interpret the word ' riddled ' here. If it means 'speak in riddles', then why 'oracle'? And the other seemingly suitable meaning of it, that is, 'explain a riddle', doesn't really make sense in this context either.
- Anonymous Really, I don't know how I should interpret the word ' riddled ' here.
- If it means 'speak in riddles', then why 'oracle'?
- And the other seemingly suitable meaning of it, that is, 'explain a riddle', doesn't really make sense in this context either.
- The second (transitive) usage is the one you want: "explain," as you say; unravel; solve.
- LeMay was certainly a controversial figure.
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1 Answers
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AnonymousReally, I don't know how I should interpret the word 'riddled' here. If it means 'speak in riddles', then why 'oracle'? And the other seemingly suitable meaning of it, that is, 'explain a riddle', doesn't really make sense in this context either.The second (transitive) usage is the one you want:
"explain," as you say; unravel; solve.
L
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