Meddle \Med"dle`\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Meddled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Meddling.]
[OE. medlen to mix, OF. medler, mesler, F.
m[^e]ler, LL. misculare, a dim. fr. L. miscere to mix. ? See
Mix, and cf. Medley, Mellay.]
1. To mix; to mingle. [Obs.]
More to know Did never meddle with my thoughts.
--Shak.
2. To interest or engage one's self; to have to do; -- ? a
good sense. [Obs.]
--Barrow.
Study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own
business. --Tyndale.
3. To interest or engage one's self unnecessarily or
impertinently, to interfere or busy one's self improperly
with another's affairs; specifically, to handle or distrub
another's property without permission; -- often followed
by with or in.
Why shouldst thou meddle to thy hurt? --2 Kings xiv.
10.
The civil lawyers . . . have meddled in a matter
that belongs not to them. --Locke.
To meddle and make, to intrude one's self into another
person's concerns. [Archaic] --Shak.
Syn: To interpose; interfere; intermeddle.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |