Meddle - Definitions from Dictionary.com

7 results for: Meddle

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

med·dle

Audio Help [med-l] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used without object), -dled, -dling.

to involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation; interfere officiously and unwantedly: Stop meddling in my personal life!

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME medlen < OF me(s)dler, var. of mesler (F mêler) < VL *misculāre, freq. of L miscére to mix

]

—Related forms

meddler, noun

med·dling·ly, adverb

—Synonyms intervene, intrude, pry.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Meddle

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

med·dle Audio Help (měd'l) Pronunciation Key
intr.v. med·dled, med·dling, med·dles

To intrude into other people's affairs or business; interfere. See Synonyms at interfere.
To handle something idly or ignorantly; tamper.

[Middle English medlen, from Anglo-Norman medler, variant of Old French mesler, from Vulgar Latin *misculāre, to mix thoroughly, from Latin miscēre, to mix; see meik- in Indo-European roots.]

med'dler (měd'lər, měd'l-ər) n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
meddle

c.1290, "to mingle," from O.N.Fr. medler (O.Fr. mesler) "to mix, mingle, to meddle," from V.L. *misculare, from L. miscere "to mix" (see mix). Meaning "to concern oneself" (usually disparaging) is attested from 1415. From c.1340 to 1700, it also was a euphemism for "have sexual intercourse." Meddlesome is attested from 1615.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

meddle
verb
intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly; "Don't meddle in my affairs!"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
meddle [ˈmedl] verb

to interfere
Example: She was always trying to meddle.

Arabic:	يَتَدَخَّل
Chinese (Simplified):	干预, 管闲事
Chinese (Traditional):	幹預, 管閑事
Czech:	vměšovat se
Danish:	blande sig
Dutch:	zich bemoeien met
Estonian:	vahele segama
Finnish:	puuttua toisten asioihin
French:	s'ingérer
German:	sich einmischen
Greek:	ανακατεύομαι
Hungarian:	be(le)avatkozik
Icelandic:	skipta sér af
Indonesian:	ikut campur
Italian:	intromettersi

Japanese:	干渉する
Korean:	간섭하다, 참견하다
Latvian:	jaukties
Lithuanian:	kištis (ne į savo reikalus)
Norwegian:	blande seg bort i, stikke nesen borti
Polish:	wtrącać się
Portuguese (Brazil):	interferir
Portuguese (Portugal):	interferir
Romanian:	a se amesteca
Russian:	вмешиваться
Slovak:	miešať sa
Slovenian:	vmešavati se
Spanish:	entrometerse
Swedish:	blanda (lägga) sig i, lägga sin näsa i blöt
Turkish:	karışmak

See also: meddlesome

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meddle

In`ter*med"dle\, v. i. [OE. entremedlen, entermellen, to mix together, OF. entremedler, entremeller, entremesler, F. entrem[^e]ler. See Inter-, and Meddle.] To meddle with the affairs of others; to meddle officiously; to interpose or interfere improperly; to mix or meddle with.

The practice of Spain hath been, by war and by conditions of treaty, to intermeddle with foreign states. --Bacon.

Syn: To interpose; interfere. See Interpose.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meddle

Med"dle`\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Meddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Meddling.] [OE. medlen to mix, OF. medler, mesler, F. m[^e]ler, LL. misculare, a dim. fr. L. miscere to mix. ? See Mix, and cf. Medley, Mellay.]

1. To mix; to mingle. [Obs.]

More to know Did never meddle with my thoughts. --Shak.

2. To interest or engage one's self; to have to do; -- ? a good sense. [Obs.] --Barrow.

Study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business. --Tyndale.

3. To interest or engage one's self unnecessarily or impertinently, to interfere or busy one's self improperly with another's affairs; specifically, to handle or distrub another's property without permission; -- often followed by with or in.

Why shouldst thou meddle to thy hurt? --2 Kings xiv. 10.

The civil lawyers . . . have meddled in a matter that belongs not to them. --Locke.

To meddle and make, to intrude one's self into another person's concerns. [Archaic] --Shak.

Syn: To interpose; interfere; intermeddle.

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