meddle
pronunciation
How to pronounce meddle in British English:
UK [ˈmedl]
How to pronounce meddle in American English:
US [ˈmedl]
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- Verb:
- intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly
Word Origin
- meddle
- meddle: see mix
- meddle (v.)
- early 14c., "to mingle, blend, mix," from Old North French medler (Old French mesler, 12c., Modern French mêler) "to mix, mingle, to meddle," from Vulgar Latin *misculare (source of Provençal mesclar, Spanish mezclar, Italian mescolare, meschiare), from Latin miscere "to mix" (see mix (v.)). From late 14c. as "busy oneself, be concerned with, engage in;" also disparagingly "interfere, be officious, make a nuisance of oneself" (the notion is of meddling too much). From mid-14c. to 1700, it also was a euphemism for "have sexual intercourse." Related: Meddled; meddling.
Example
- 1. So by what right can america meddle in its internal politics ?
- 2. No need for sarbanes and company to meddle and make newer and stiffer regulations .
- 3. The publication of official statistics was curtailed , for fear that it would encourage civil servants to meddle .
- 4. In a country where workers routinely take bosses hostage , no one wants to meddle with their right to go camping .
- 5. Sending troops to central africa to meddle in an utterly murky conflict is a symptom that the interventionist addiction is growing worse .