v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Raveled r Ravelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Raveling or Ravelling. ] [ OD. ravelen, D. rafelen, akin to LG. rebeln, rebbeln, reffeln. ] 1. To separate or undo the texture of; to unravel; to take apart; to untwist; to unweave or unknit; -- often followed by out; as, to ravel a twist; to ravel out a stocking. [ 1913 Webster ] Sleep, that knits up the raveled sleave of care. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To undo the intricacies of; to disentangle. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] What glory's due to him that could divide Such raveled interests? has the knot untied? Waller. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] |