# What's the solution to this riddle in "Emma"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-solution-to-this-riddle-in-emma/468560 "2008-10-18T21:14:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-solution-to-this-riddle-in-emma/468560/1 "2008-10-18T21:14:32Z")
In chapter 9, Emma and Harriet are engaged in collecting riddles, puzzles, and conundrums. The vapid and goofy Mr. Elton suggests this: > [@](#): > > My first doth affliction denote, > Which my second is destin’d to feel > And my whole is the best antidote > That affliction to soften and heal. - Emma regretfully tells him that they’ve already got that one, but Austen doesn’t give us the answer. Having no head for this sort of thing myself, I can’t figure it out, beyond the fact that the solution is apparently a compound word. I’ve read _Emma_ at least a dozen times, and not knowing the answer has never bothered me, but for some reason on this re-read it’s driving me nuts. Any guesses? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-solution-to-this-riddle-in-emma/468560/2 "2008-10-18T21:17:24Z")
According to Google, woman (= woe + man). ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-solution-to-this-riddle-in-emma/468560/3 "2008-10-18T23:46:30Z")
Ah, it’s a 19th century style bad pun. Okay, thanks!