Category:Ravel

Rav"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raveled or ravelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Raveling or ravelling.] Etym: [. 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. 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.

Ravel 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.