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.

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