meddle
- to involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation; interfere officiously and unwantedly: Stop meddling in my personal life!
Origin of meddle
Synonyms
See more synonyms for meddle on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for meddler
Historical Examples
Nobody must tell me I'm a meddler, butting in where I have no business.
The Woman Thou Gavest MeHall Caine
You chose to reject my love and invite that meddler Sedgwick into our affairs.
The Pirate of PanamaWilliam MacLeod Raine
A meddler is always a muddler;' how well I remember her saying that.
Doctor Luttrell's First PatientRosa Nouchette Carey
The managers of big business attributed the panic to "Theodore the Meddler."
The New NationFrederic L. Paxson
You are as far as possible from a meddler: your fault is that you keep too much to yourself.
A PessimistRobert Timsol
meddle
- (usually foll by with) to interfere officiously or annoyingly
- (usually foll by in) to involve oneself unwarrantedlyto meddle in someone's private affairs
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for meddler
n.
late 14c., "practitioner," agent noun from meddle (v.). Meaning "one who interferes, a nuisance" is mid-15c.
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.