Meddle

/ˈmɛd.əl/ · verb

Meaning

To interfere in or with; to concern oneself with unduly..

Definitions by Sense

1. To interfere in or with; to concern oneself with unduly.
2. (obsolete) To interest or engage oneself; to have to do (with), in a good sense.
3. (obsolete) To mix (something) with some other substance; to commingle, combine, blend.
4. (intransitive, now US regional) To have sex.

Example Sentences

[…] why ſhouldeſt thou meddle to thy hurt,[…]?

[…] the Civil Lawyers […] have medled in a matter, that belongs not to them;[…].

There is much to dislike about the proposed constitution, which will keep elected governments beholden to a senate nominated by the junta and to a suite of meddling committees.

[…]ſtuddy to be quyet / and to medle with youre owne buſynes[…].

The Pythagoreans who, as Ariſtotle ſays, were the firſt among the Greeks, that meddled with Mathematics, divided them into four Parts, of which, two were Pure and Primary, namely Arithmetic and Geometry; and the other two Mixed and Secondary, as Muſic and Spheres, i. e. Aſtronomy.

[H]e cutt a lock of all their heare, / Which medling with their blood & earth, he threw / Into the graue,[…].

But after god came to Adam and bad hym knowe his wyf flesshly as nature requyred / Soo lay Adam with his wyf vnder the same tree / and anone the tree whiche was whyte and ful grene as ony grasse and alle that came oute of hit / and in the same tyme that they medled to gyders there was Abel begoten / thus was the tree longe of grene colour

Take a Rammes head that neuer medled with an Ewe, cut off at a blow, and the hornes onely taken away, boyle it well skinne and wooll together,[…].

Synonyms for meddle

Antonyms for meddle

Related Words

Word Forms

• meddles
• meddling
• meddled
• medle

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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