DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
Rav·el v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raveled or Ravelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Raveling or Ravelling.]
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.
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 the knot 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.