Rav"el (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raveled (?) or Ravelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Raveling or Ravelling.] [. ravelen, D. rafelen, akin to LG. rebeln, rebbeln, reffeln.]
1.
To separate or undo the texture of; to take apart; to untwist; to unweave or unknit; -- often followed by out; as, to ravel a twist; to ravel out a sticking.
<-- = to unravel? -->
Sleep, that knits up the raveled sleave of care.
Shak.
2.
To undo the intricacies of; to disentangle.
3.
To pull apart, as the threads of a texture, and let them fall into a tangled mass; hence, to entangle; to make intricate; to involve.
What glory's due to him that could divide
Such raveled interests? has he not untied?
Waller.
The faith of very many men seems a duty so weak and indifferent, is so often untwisted by violence, or raveled and entangled in weak discourses!
Jer. Taylor.
© Webster 1913.
Rav"el, v. i.
1.
To become untwisted or unwoven; to be disentangled; to be relieved of intricacy.
2.
To fall into perplexity and confusion.
[Obs.]
Till, by their own perplexities involved,
They ravel more, still less resolved.
Milton.
3.
To make investigation or search, as by picking out the threads of a woven pattern.
[Obs.]
The humor of raveling into all these mystical or entangled matters.
Sir W. Temple.
© Webster 1913.