ravel English · revision 1159

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹævəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|nl|ravelen|t=to tangle, fray, unweave]] (now ''rafelen''),^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''ravel'', ''rafel'' “loose or frayed thread”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline) Barnhart compares Old Norse ''refill'' “piece of cloth”.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To untangle or unwind (1582),^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) and to become tangled or confused (before 1585).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb has carried both opposite senses since it was borrowed, because as threads are unwoven their ends become tangled.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It meant to entangle from 1598,^(OED 1989)^(AHD) to fray out, of a fabric, from 1611,^(OED 1989) and to unwind or unweave from 1607.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) The word [[unravel]] appeared in 1603,^(AHD) but ''ravel'' still keeps both meanings.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995) The noun meant a tangle from 1634 and a loose thread from 1832.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1582 – to disentangle (figurative).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1585 – to become entangled.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1598 – to entangle.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1607 – to unravel or unweave.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1634 – noun, a tangle.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1832 – noun, a loose thread.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To separate the threads of a fabric; to [[unravel]] or fray.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make clear by separating the parts; to [[disentangle]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # To tangle or complicate; to confuse.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To become tangled or confused.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a road surface, to break up or lose its [[aggregate]].^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A tangle or complication.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A loose or broken thread.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[raveler]]

+ * [[ravelment]]

+ * [[ravelly]]

+ * [[raveling]]

+ * [[unravel]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Wiktionary notes that the spellings ''ravelling'' and ''ravelled'' are more common in Britain than in the U.S.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}