What is "ravelled"

Ravel \Rav"el\ (r[a^]v"'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raveled (-'ld) or 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.

   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.

vb. (en-past of: ravel)

1. v. disentangle; "can you unravel the mystery?"; "unravel the ball or yarn" [syn: unravel, ravel out]

2. tangle or complicate; "a ravelled story" [syn: tangle, knot] [ant: unravel, unravel]

3. [also: ravelling, ravelled]

See ravel