meddle
Use Meddle in a sentence
l verb (used without object), med·dled, med·dling.
to involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation; interfere officiously and unwantedly: Stop meddling in my personal life!
Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English medlen < Old French me(s)dler, variant of mesler (French mêler) < Vulgar Latin *misculāre, frequentative of Latin miscēre to mix
1250–1300; Middle English medlen < Old French me(s)dler, variant of mesler (French mêler) < Vulgar Latin *misculāre, frequentative of Latin miscēre to mix
Related forms
med·dler, noun
med·dling·ly, adverb
o·ver·med·dle, verb (used without object), o·ver·med·dled, o·ver·med·dling.
un·med·dled, adjective
un·med·dling, adjective
Synonyms
intervene, intrude, pry.
intervene, intrude, pry.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To meddle
00:10
Meddle
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
meddle (ˈmɛdəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | ( |
| 2. | ( |
| [C14: from Old French medler, ultimately from Latin miscēre to mix] | |
| 'meddler | |
| —n | |
| 'meddling | |
| —adj | |
| 'meddlingly | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
meddle
late 13c., "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 early 15c. From mid-14c. to 1700, it also was a euphemism for
"have sexual intercourse." Related: Meddled; meddler; meddlesome; meddling.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
By retaining big minority stakes or golden shares, successive governments have kept their capacity to meddle.
Unfortunately, such dysfunctions tend to remain unaddressed because no outsider wants or dares to meddle in a marriage.
Underlying the feud was a complaint that since only three members hold regular jobs, the board has time to meddle in management.
Great mischief is possible if boards try to meddle with the substance of the curriculum.
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