Meddling - Definitions from Dictionary.com

4 results for: Meddling

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.
Meddling

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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
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

meddling
adjective
1.	intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner; "an interfering old woman"; "bustling about self-importantly making an officious nuisance of himself"; "busy about other people's business" [syn: interfering]
noun
1.	the act of altering something secretly or improperly

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

Meddling

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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