verb (used without object), med·dled, med·dling.
Origin of meddle
Examples from the Web for meddle
Clearly poverty is not the only reason state reps are attempting to meddle with marriage laws.Oklahoma Politicians Will Save Your Broken Marriage|Lizzie Crocker|January 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the past, McCarthy refused to meddle in the film versions of his work.‘The Counselor’ & How Cormac McCarthy Beat the Hollywood Curse|Andrew Romano|October 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It would certainly have been wrong for Obama to meddle with the investigation for political reasons.Should Eric Holder Have Told Obama About the Petraeus Scandal Sooner?|James Warren|November 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Both would also be tempted to meddle with each other's minorities.
The Republican National Committee came around only to meddle with his plans, he said.
Let me ask thee one question more; what hast thou to do to meddle with the affairs of my family?The History of John Bull|John Arbuthnot
It is a fearful thing to meddle with the ark which holds the mysteries of creation.The Poet at the Breakfast Table|Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
After all, Aunt Stanbury was right, though it was not her business to meddle with us.He Knew He Was Right|Anthony Trollope
I do not know that I am concerned to meddle in your affairs at all.The Way We Live Now|Anthony Trollope
Just mind your own business; you will never be anything if you meddle in other people's affairs.Cousin Pons|Honore de Balzac
Word Origin for 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.