Ravel /(răv"'l)/

imp. & p. p. Raveled; p. pr. & vb. n. Raveling

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.

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?

   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!

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.

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.