meddle

[med-l] /ˈmɛd l/

verb (used without object), meddled, meddling.

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

Related forms

meddler, noun

meddlingly, adverb

overmeddle, verb (used without object), overmeddled, overmeddling.

unmeddled, adjective

unmeddling, adjective

unmeddlingly, adverb

Can be confused

medal, meddle, metal, mettle.

Synonyms

intervene, intrude, pry.

Examples from the web for meddling

But to telescopes above the meddling atmosphere, the sky is aglow with infrared light.
To see them meddling in academic matters they do not understand is indeed troubling.
Who does it exactly is not essential and to micromanage as such would be seen as meddling.
Fine wits destroy themselves with their own plots, in meddling with great affairs of state.
There can be no meddling with the laws of righteousness, of decency, of morality.
The point is that the government should not be meddling in our lives and screwing millions of people.
So more human meddling with the climate to move a hurricane is hardly going to be helpful.
Everything else is subject to political horse trading and accusations of government meddling.
Scientists fought for the right to operate independently of the meddling and interference of the church.
But that should apply to all dietary recommendations and government meddling in consumer choice.

British Dictionary definitions for meddling

meddle

/ˈmɛdəl/

verb (intransitive)

(usually foll by with) to interfere officiously or annoyingly

(usually foll by in) to involve oneself unwarrantedly: to meddle in someone's private affairs

Derived Forms

meddler, noun
meddling, adjective
meddlingly, adverb

Word Origin

C14: from Old French medler, ultimately from Latin miscēre to mix

Word Origin and History for meddling

"action of blending," mid-14c., from present participle of meddle (v.). Meaning "action of taking part, interference" is late 14c. As a past participle adjective, from 1520s. Related: Meddlingly.

meddle

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.