meddlev.

Brit.

/ˈmɛdl/, U.S.

/ˈmɛd(ə)l/

Forms: Middle English medele, Middle English medelle, Middle English medil, Middle English medille, Middle English melde (probably transmission error), Middle English modil (probably transmission error), Middle English–1500s meddel, Middle English–1500s meddyl, Middle English–1500s medel, Middle English–1500s medell, Middle English–1500s medill, Middle English–1500s medul, Middle English–1500s medull, Middle English–1500s medyl, Middle English–1500s medyll, Middle English–1500s medylle, Middle English–1700s medle, Middle English– meddle, 1500s meddyll, 1500s mydle, 1500s–1600s meddell; Scottish pre-1700 meaddille, pre-1700 meaddule, pre-1700 meadile, pre-1700 meadille, pre-1700 meadule, pre-1700 meddel, pre-1700 meddell, pre-1700 meddill, pre-1700 medel, pre-1700 medell, pre-1700 medill, pre-1700 medl, pre-1700 medle, pre-1700 metle, pre-1700 middill, pre-1700 midell, pre-1700 myddill, pre-1700 myddle, pre-1700 myddyll, pre-1700 mydill, pre-1700 mydle, pre-1700 mydyll, pre-1700 1700s– meddle, pre-1700 1700s– middle, pre-1700 1700s– midle.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French medler, mesler.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman medler (c1165), variant of Anglo-Norman and Old French mesler, meller (c1000 in Old French as mescler ; French mêler (1740)) < post-classical Latin misculare (9th cent.) < classical Latin miscēre to mix (see mixed adj.²) + -ulare , verbal ending of uncertain origin (perhaps compare -ule suffix, and post-classical Latin misculatio usurpation, encroachment (780)). Compare Old Occitan mesclar (mid 11th cent.), Spanish mezclar (1207 as mesclar ), Italian mescolare (14th cent.), mischiare (a1320). Compare mell v.¹ and medley v. (and etymological note at that entry).Anglo-Norman medler shows regular development from the earlier form mesler : in early Old French, /z/ > /ð/ (written -d- ) before a voiced dental consonant prior to its complete effacement in this position during the latter half of the Old French period (whence the form meller mell v.¹). This transitional stage persisted longer in Anglo-Norman than in continental French, and is reflected in several English loans of the period: meddle v. beside mell v.¹ is paralleled by medley n. beside mellay n.; compare also Middle English spellings of isle n., male adj. and n.¹, and medle n. The chief senses of the English verb are paralleled in Anglo-Norman and Old French, as to mix or mingle (things, c1000; of people, 1130), to fight (c1100), to interfere (c1160). Sense 4 is attested from the second half of the 15th cent. in Middle French. In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix).

I. To mix or mingle.

†a. transitive. To mix or mingle (people) with, among (others) or together. Usually in passive. Also reflexive: to mix oneself in, among. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > specific persons

meddlec1300

mella1387

c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) 281 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 227 (MED) In-to þe freytore he ladde heom þo, and sette heom..I-medlede with heore owene couent.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 149 (MED) Þere þey wonede long tyme afterwarde i-medled with Britouns.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 13002 Kynges & dukes of paien wer medled among cristen.

a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) 1 Cor. v. 9 I wroot to ȝou..that ȝe be not medlid [1382 E.V. meynd, or comunen not; L. commisceamini] with letchours.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) i. 43 So medled theymself the one partye among the other.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) i. vii. 127 Himself alsua, mydlit, persavit he, Amang princis of Grece.

1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales ii. xviii. 59 By sorting and medling togither the runnagates, the new and raw soldier lately taken [etc.]..he marshalled them in forme of a legion.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxvii. xxxix. 967 Thus you see all the forces that the Romanes had besides two thousand Thracians and Macedonians medled and blended together.

†b. intransitive. Of people: to mix or join in company. Of a person: to mingle, associate with others. Scottish in later use. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate together or with [verb (intransitive)]

mingc1275

company1387

joinc1390

meddlec1390

herd?a1400

fellowshipc1430

enfellowship1470

to step in1474

accompany?1490

yoke?a1513

to keep with ——c1515

conjoin1532

wag1550

frequent1577

encroach1579

consort1588

sort1595

commerce1596

troop1597

converse1598

to keep (also enter, come into, etc.) commons1598

to enter common1604

atone1611

to walk (also travel) in the way with1611

minglea1616

consociate1638

associate1644

corrive1647

co-unite1650

walk1650

cohere1651

engage1657

mix1667

accustom1670

to make one1711

coalite1735

commerciate1740

to have nothing to say to (also with)1780

gang?1791

companion1792

mess1795

matea1832

comrade1865

to go around1904

to throw in with1906

to get down1975

c1390 W. Hilton Mixed Life (Vernon) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1895) I. 269 O tyme he [sc. our Lorde] comuned & medled wiþ men.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 5690 Soone he medeled [a1400 Vesp. menged] hem amonge.

1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 38 Alle the personys..that ever I medlyd with.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. iii. 43 I affeir me les the fatis onstable..consent nocht, ne aggre, That [etc.] Or list appreif thai peplis all and summyng Togiddir middle, or jone in lige or band.

a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 27 Bot the erle of Lennox..freindis wald nocht consent that he meddillit mair with the governour.

1612 T. Studley & A. Todkill in W. Symonds Proc. Eng. Colonie iv. 24 This charitable humor prevailed, till well it chaunced they medled with Captaine Smith.

1656 in H. Paton Rep. Laing MSS (1914) I. 306 As for your perticular medl no mor with him in it.

1830 A. MacIntosh Let. 1 Oct. in W. Scott Tales of Grandfather 3rd Ser. III. v. 181 I hope..you will not offer to middle with any of my men.

1874 A. Hislop Bk. Sc. Anecd. (1875) 6 Frae that day to this I hae never meddlet wi' a probationer again.

c. intransitive. To engage in conflict; to contend, fight. Chiefly with with; (occasionally) with against. Now rare (see quot. 1937).

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight [verb (intransitive)]

fightc900

deal993

wraxlec1000

skirm?c1225

makec1275

mellc1300

to fight togethera1400

meddlec1400

match1440

wring1470

cobc1540

toilc1540

strike1579

beat1586

scuffle1590

exchange blows1594

to bang it out or aboutc1600

buffeta1616

tussle1638

dimicate1657

to try a friskin1675

to battle it1821

muss1851

scrap1874

to mix it1905

dogfight1929

yike1940

to go upside (someone's) head1970

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xx. 178 (MED) Surgerye ne Fisyke May nouȝte a myte auaille to medle aȝein elde.

1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) ix. xxxv. sig. z^v For and I had sene his black sheld, I wold not haue medled with hym.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) iii. 100 Whan Alarde and Guycharde..saw that they myghte not passe, but that they muste medle, they spored theyr horses.

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. R.v^v They medled so one with an other..that there was slaine .v. capitaynes.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 242 But when the Normans sawe them recule back..some sayde they are afrayde to medle wyth vs.

c1600 (c1350) Alisaunder (Greaves) (1929) 93 That hee ne myght with þo menne medle no while.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) iii. iv. 244 Therefore on, or strippe your sword starke naked: for meddle you must that's certain.

c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1851) II. 97 The Kinges owne gaird..medles with thame and killis sum of thir apprenteissis.

1716 Boston News-let. 21 May 2/1 There is an English Pyrate Sloop about the Bahema Islands, with 150 Men on board, who say they meddle not with English or Dutch, but that they never consented to the Articles of Peace with the French and Spaniards.

1937 Amer. Speech 12 232/1 Negroes use meddle in the obsolete sense of ‘to fight’ (with), ‘engage in conflict’: ‘Him and Turk meddled last night outside the O.K. Bar.’

†2.

a. transitive. To mix, mingle (a thing, often a liquid substance, or quality); to commingle; esp. to mix (one thing) with (another), or (two or more things) together. Also with among, in, to. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)]

mingeOE

blandOE

mongle?c1225

meddlec1350

sprengea1382

compoundc1384

intermeddlec1384

temperc1386

mell1387

found?c1390

joinc1400

intermell1413

commix?a1425

medley?a1425

mix?a1425

amenge?c1450

immix?a1475

immixt?a1475

minglea1475

tremp1480

commixt1481

incarry1486

mixtionc1500

mixta1513

demelle1516

confect1540

intermixt1551

intermingle1555

bemix1559

intermix1562

contemper1567

blenge1570

bemingle1574

contemperate1590

masha1591

commeddle1604

immingle1606

blenda1616

intemper1627

commingle1648

conferment1651

subigate1657

to mix up1672

mould1701

meine1736

caudle1795

combine1799

interblenda1849

inmix1892

meld1936

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > prepare by mixing

mingOE

meddlec1350

compoundc1384

temper1390

mix1482

comfit1483

confect1575

mingle1587

to make up1649

concoct1676

amalgamate1821

to rub in1844

c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) lxxiv. 7 (MED) Grace ys, in þe honde of our Lord, ful of sharpenes medeled wyþ lyþenes.

c1390 W. Hilton Mixed Life (Vernon) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1895) I. 267 (MED) Þow schalt medle þe werkes of actif lyf wiþ gostly werkes of contemplatyf lyf.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 81^v Oure lord hath I-medled spirit of gedines, Isyas. [Isaiah 19:14 miscuit in medio eius spiritum vertiginis.]

c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. x. 3 (MED) Of erþe & eir it is mad, medlit togideris.

?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 50 (MED) It is a roche of white colour and a lytill medled with red.

c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 874 And how she wep of teres ful his wounde; How medeleth she his blod with hire compleynte.

a1500 (?c1378) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 456 (MED) Saracenes wiþ oþere sectis holden myche of cristis lawe, but oþere lawis þat þey meddlen maken þis sect displese to god..straunge lawis ben meddlid more vndir oure pope..þan þey ben meddlid in oþere sectis.

1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) i. 22 They are also blamefull that..medel other prayers, or other besynes with these holy houres.

1572 L. Mascall tr. D. Brossard L'Art et Maniere de Semer vii, in Bk. Plant & Graffe Trees 45 If ye do then meddle about eache tree of good fat earth or dung,..it shall be good.

1606 Bp. J. Hall Heauen vpon Earth xi. 84 Thy prosperity is Idle, & il spent if it be not medled with such fore-casting..thoughts.

1658 tr. G. della Porta Nat. Magick i. iii. 4 The Elements..are all changed, every one of them being more or less medled with one another.

b. transitive. To prepare (a drink) by mixing. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) Apoc. xviii. 6 In the drinke that she medlide [L. miscuit] to ȝou, menge ȝe double to hir.

?a1425 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. iv. met. iii. 5 Cerces, the faire goddesse..medleth to hir newe gestes drynkes.

c. transitive. To mix (goods) fraudulently. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > mix (wares) fraudulently

meddlec1400

c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. vii. 260 Ich haue..Meddled my marchaundise and mad a good moustre.

1463–4 Rolls of Parl. V. 501 Noo persone..medell, or put in or uppon the same Cloth..eny Lambes Wolle.

c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. xxx^v/1 Where as marchauntis haue vsed moche false pakyng of ther wood medlyng y^e bett' w^t y^e worse.

1622 L. Andrewes Serm. (1629) 231 Thus doth he medle his chaffe; mold in his soure levin into Christ's nova conspersio.

d. transitive. To combine, blend (culinary or medical ingredients). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Vesp. B.xii) (1904) 56 (MED) Lete hem wele boyle to gideres and medille hem alway with a stike.

1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. bvj^v Medill the blode of the pecoke among the poudre.

1563 T. Gale Certaine Wks. Chirurg. iv. ii. f. 85^v He shall in his daylye drynke meddle three or foure droppes of the same.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 438 Take the ashes of 3 frogs..meddle them with hony.

†3. intransitive. Of things: to mingle, combine. Also transitive (reflexive). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > become mixed or blended [verb (intransitive)]

mingOE

meddlec1350

mella1387

blenda1400

commix?1520

admixa1522

mixa1522

mingle1530

wallc1598

co-minglea1616

comminglea1626

congregate1626

intermingle1626

intermella1641

conflux1662

intermix1722

partake1731

to work up1841

interfuse1851

interblend1854

immingle1858

inmix1892

meld1959

c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 28 (MED) Ase oþer mete, Into þy wombe hyȝt sedlyþ; Ac ne defiþ nauȝt, ase þy mete Wyþ þyne flesch medlyþ.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 1586 (MED) Whan wordes medlen with the song, It doth plesance wel the more.

c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame 2102 I shal never fro the go..We wil medle us ech with other.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 22 More to know Did neuer medle with my thoughts.

4. intransitive. To have sexual intercourse (with). Occasionally (as quot. ?1573) transitive. Now U.S. regional (southern).Cf. mix v. 3b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity [verb (intransitive)] > have sexual intercourse

playOE

to do (also work) one's kindc1225

bedc1315

couple1362

gendera1382

to go togetherc1390

to come togethera1398

meddlea1398

felterc1400

companya1425

swivec1440

japea1450

mellc1450

to have to do with (also mid, of, on)1474

engender1483

fuck?a1513

conversec1540

jostlec1540

confederate1557

coeate1576

jumble1582

mate1589

do1594

conjoin1597

grind1598

consortc1600

pair1603

to dance (a dance) between a pair of sheets1608

commix1610

cock1611

nibble1611

wap1611

bolstera1616

incorporate1622

truck1622

subagitate1623

occupya1626

minglec1630

copulate1632

fere1632

rut1637

joust1639

fanfreluche1653

carnalize1703

screw1725

pump1730

correspond1756

shag1770

hump1785

conjugate1790

diddle1879

to get some1889

fuckeec1890

jig-a-jig1896

perform1902

rabbit1919

jazz1920

sex1921

root1922

yentz1923

to make love1927

rock1931

mollock1932

to make (beautiful) music (together)1936

sleep1936

bang1937

lumber1938

to hop into bed (with)1951

to make out1951

ball1955

score1960

trick1965

to have it away1966

to roll in the hay1966

to get down1967

poontang1968

pork1968

shtup1969

shack1976

bonk1984

boink1985

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 290^v Þe leonesse medleþ in lecchery wiþ þe pard.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xi. 335 (MED) Alle other bestes Medled nouȝte wyth here makes þat with fole were.

a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 24 (MED) ‘Wel,’ he seyd, ‘þan schal I medyl ȝow a-geyn.’

?a1450 ( J. Lydgate Serpent of Division (McClean) (1911) 63 (MED) Hit sempte vnto hym in his slepe þat he medled fleschely with his owne moder.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 10811 Wemen allone Withouten mon owther make, to medill hom with.

a1544 R. Layton Let. in T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. (1655) vi. 318 Making her believe, that..as ofte as they shold medle together, if she were..confessed by him,..she shold be cleere forgeven of God.

?1573 L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes f. 75 ^v Their women [are] commen for all men at al tymes to medle [1583 medle with].

c1600 (c1350) Alisaunder (Greaves) (1929) 964 Dame,..Þou haste medled amis, methynk, by thy chere.

1695 W. Congreve Love for Love i. xi. 10 I never could meddle with a Woman, that had to do with any body else.

1718 Boston News-let. No. 724. 2/2 Some Weeks ago to the Westward of that place, a very remarkable thing fell out, (which we here relate as a caveat for all Negroes medling for the future with any white women, least they fare with like treatment,) [etc.].

1975 Amer. Speech 50 62 Meddle, have sexual intercourse with (one).

II. To concern oneself or interfere (with).

†5. transitive (reflexive). To concern or busy oneself. Chiefly with with, of, after. Also (occasionally): to oppose oneself or set oneself against. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or busy oneself [verb (reflexive)] > concern or involve oneself

entermete?c1225

intermitc1340

meddlea1375

mella1375

intermeddle1483

intermell1550

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2492 (MED) Many man by his miȝt medled him þer-after.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xii. 16 Þow medlest þe with makynges.

1442 Rolls of Parl. V. 54 Some haven Shippes of here owne, and some medle hem of freight of Shippes.

a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) 10845 (MED) Medle the ryht nouht Tarest pylgrymes by vyolence.

1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) xx. vii. sig. bb.iiij I wyl not medle me therof.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 634/1 You medyll you with maters that you have naught to do with.

a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iii. sig. B.j^v Nourse medle you with your spyndle.

1563 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 50 I wes almaist astoneist..that sa obscuir men durst presume to medle thame aganis all auctoritie.

1671 in W. Fraser Memorials Family Wemyss (1888) III. 134 To meaddule not yourself with that affeaire.

a. intransitive. †To set to work, to busy oneself (obsolete); to concern oneself unduly, to interfere.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > acting in another's business or intervention > act in another's business or intervene [verb (intransitive)] > interfere or meddle

entermeenec1449

intermit1456

intromit?a1475

intermeddle1477

intromeddle1524

to put (also have) an oar in every man's boat1542

to put (also stick, shove, etc.) one's oar in1542

to have a hand in the dish1551

pudder1624

mird?c1625

to mell or make with1634

potter1655

dabble1660

meddle1711

interfere1743

to bugger about1937

to bugger around1961

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2325 (MED) Many miȝti man manliche medled þat time.

a1422 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 448 (MED) No brother presume..to make no maistri, ne for to medle on the day of the feste.

a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) vii. 1262 (MED) Trouthe durst nat medle; abak stood rihtwisnesse.

1545 Bp. S. Gardiner Let. c5 Nov. (1933) 168 I wold not medle so farre as to avaunce my self further in the matter.

1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. ii. f. 9^v They shuld meddle no further than their commission.

1686 F. Spence tr. A. Varillas Ἀνεκδοτα Ἑτερουιακα 22 There are Connexions..in point of Traffick, which are only well known by those that meddle that way.

1711 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 28 Aug. (1948) I. 346 I was advising him to use his interest to prevent any misunderstanding between our ministers; but he is too wise to meddle.

1859 A. Cary Pictures Country Life 303 She had better attend her own affairs, and I will tell her so if she comes here meddling.

1860 R. W. Emerson Wealth in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 93 Do not legislate. Meddle, and you snap the sinews with your sumptuary laws.

1915 F. M. Hueffer Good Soldier i. vi. 83 She meddled between him and Leonora from a sheer, imbecile spirit of district visiting.

1986 Z. Tomin Stalin's Shoe vi. 107 Mother please, stop meddling!

b. intransitive. To concern or busy oneself, to deal with, †of; to interpose, take part in (now archaic or historical); to concern oneself unduly with, interfere in (also (U.S.) into).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > be occupied or busy (in or at something) [verb (intransitive)] > be involved in or have to do with something

entermetec1300

to make (a) market1340

meddlec1390

to do with ——a1400

mell1416

intermeddle1477

intermell1480

to have art or (and) part ina1500

participate1531

to have a finger (also hand) in the pie?1553

tigc1598

get1727

concern1791

involve1843

to mix up1882

tew1891

to screw with ——1973

c1390 G. Chaucer Melibeus 2731 He is coupable that entremetteth hym or medleth with swich thyng as aperteneth nat vn to hym.

c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 1424 Medleth namoore with that art... For if ye doon, youre thrift is goon ful clene.

1415 T. Hoccleve Addr. to Sir John Oldcastle l. 137 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 12 Lete holy chirche medle of the doctryne Of Crystes lawes.

1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 16 Ony ware Of whiche I medle with Or that I haue vnder hande.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Thess. iv. 11 We beseche you..that ye studdy to be quyet and to medle with your owne busynes.

1528 S. Gardiner in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation (1870) I. 123 It should be well done your grace meddled not as judge in the matter.

1528–30 tr. T. Littleton Tenures (new ed.) f. xliiii A perpetual chauntery wherof the ordynary hath nothyng to medle nor to do.

1545 in Vicary's Anat. Bodie of Man (1888) App. xv. 288 The Bochers..haue..inhaunsed the prices of all kyndes of vytayles that they medle withall & putt to sale.

1622 R. Harris Serm. 8 Happie that State wherein the Cobler meddles with his last, the Tradesman with his shop.

1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 154 Hee meddles in an infinite number of things with equall capacitie.

1694 J. Ray Let. 23 Apr. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 200 The slender-bill'd [birds]..seldome meddle with dry seeds unlesse driven by hunger.

1774 B. Franklin & G. Whately Princ. Trade 33 It wou'd be beter if Government medled no farther with Trade, than to protect it.

1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 14 Wholly unacquainted with the world in which they are so fond of meddling .

1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) II. 462 It [sc. the statute] does not meddle with wills.

1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xvii. 273 Some evil persons..might be disposed to meddle with us, if they saw our wagon.

1865 G. Grote Plato I. ii. 95 Philosophers who meddled less with debate and more with facts.

1873 J. H. Newman Hist. Sketches II. iii. i. 328 His enemies accused him of..meddling in matters which did not belong to him.

1916 G. Saintsbury Peace of Augustans i. 41 It is difficult to be certain whether he would have long meddled with the stage if he had not, as a political reward, got shares in theatrical patents.

1954 ACLS Newslet. 5 No. 2 To abstain from the temptation to meddle into the inner affairs of other departments.

1955 J. P. Donleavy Ginger Man xvii. 187 Who's been meddling with the dresser and pulling out the drawers?

1993 USA Weekend 28 Feb. 4/2 We had 12 years of hands-off Republican presidents who said government should not meddle in people's lives.

†c. intransitive. Phrases and proverbial sayings. Obsolete.neither make nor meddle, etc.: see make v.¹ 57.

ΚΠ

1562 J. Heywood Prov. ii. iii. G Who medleth in all thyng, maie shooe the goslyng.

1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor iii. ii. sig. G^v Nay he wil not meddle with his match I warrant you.

1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 200 It is ill medling between the Bark and the Rind.

1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 246 Meddle with your Match... You dare not meddle with your Match.

d. intransitive. to meddle and muddle: to interfere in an inept and disruptive manner. Used chiefly in political contexts, after quot. 1864.

ΚΠ

1862 J. G. Holland Lessons in Life 206 An honestly-loving heart and an ordinarily clear brain, that nobody has been allowed to meddle with and muddle, will tell a man where he belongs and what he ought to do.]

1864 Ld. Derby in Parl. Deb. 3rd Ser. 173 28 The foreign policy of the noble Earl [sc. Ld. John Russell],..may be summed up in two short homely but expressive words—‘meddle and muddle’.

1880 Catholic World Jan. 562/1 Nations great as well as small have abundant occupation in strictly attending to their own business..without going abroad to watch over other interests, or, as a distinguished statesman once put it, to ‘meddle and muddle’.

1892 N. Amer. Rev. Feb. 175 With the transference of India to the Crown came advantages and disadvantages... Among the latter [was] the mischief of getting India ‘meddled and muddled’ by entanglement with the House of Commons debates.

1966 Times 4 Aug. 7/6 The right hon. gentleman (he said) is a meddler and a muddler... Part IV of this Bill and Parts II and III will increase his powers to meddle and muddle.

2001 Scotsman (Nexis) 8 Oct. 9 The Conservative leader, Iain Duncan Smith, claimed Labour had ‘meddled and muddled’ with the railways since coming to power in 1997.

7. transitive. To deal with; to interfere with; to trouble, bother; to harm. Now chiefly regional (Irish English, Scottish, and southern U.S.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > have to do with or be involved in or with

to have to do with (also mid, of, on)lOE

meddle1413

intromit1522

fretc1540

make1564

to have a finger in1583

converse1592

cope with1594

trade1595

play1928

1413 in F. A. Page-Turner Bedfordshire Wills (1914) 20 (MED) Non of my executours medle or minister any þyng of my godes withoute auis & consent of my surveours.

1461 H. Windsor in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 251 Yf ye had neuer medulled the godez of my Maister F.

1523 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 400 No town dweller shall meddell nor interrupte nor occupie no mans occupacion or sience..but only his own sienc.

1607 T. Lake Let. 16 Jan. in Cal. MSS Marquis of Salisbury (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1965) XIX. 11 My Lord of Dunbar has apprehended of late divers..of the most ancient thieves and receivers of thieves that were there abiding; and many of them such as durst not beforetime be meddled, which his Majesty thinks by this time to have suffered the law.

1832 H. Smith Poet. Misc. 38 Although I wouldna meddle thee, More timid ye would need to be.

1857 Misty Morning (2nd Thousand) 18 He'll bite onybody that wad come to meddle me.

1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders iv. 42 Let my hair alane—my hair's no meddlin' you!

1929 T. T. Paterson Paterson's Sc. Readings 4 Wha's been meddlin' the wean?

1942 Scots Mag. May 106 Ye needna be feared at the cattle-beasts. They'll no meddle ye.

1953 M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal 183/1 The dog won't meddle you.

1974 T. Morrison Sula i. 74 Sula was acting up,..meddling the newly married couple.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	meddle
释义	meddlen. Brit. /ˈmɛdl/, U.S. /ˈmɛd(ə)l/ Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: meddle v. Etymology: < meddle v.In phrase heavy meddle in quot. 1986 punningly after heavy metal at heavy adj.¹ 2c. rare. The action, or an act, of meddling or interfering. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > acting in another's business or intervention > [noun] > interference or meddling entermetinga1325 intromeddle1524 interfering1562 meddle1602 intermeddling1611 mirding1614 interference1783 meddlinga1797 intermeddlement1836 meddlement1842 intromission1884 1602 W. Watson Decacordon Ten Quodlibeticall Questions 338 The priests found more fauour at the ciuill magistrates hands, than they [sc. the Jesuits] could find, bicause they had cleered themselues of all state meddles. 1885 Overland Monthly Nov. 556 The history of the France of all ages has shown, when women meddle with politics here, it's a meddle not to be despised. 1986 J. Sher (title) Heavy meddle: a critique of the North Carolina Department of Public Instructions's plan to mandate school district mergers throughout the state. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022). meddlev. Brit. /ˈmɛdl/, U.S. /ˈmɛd(ə)l/ Forms: Middle English medele, Middle English medelle, Middle English medil, Middle English medille, Middle English melde (probably transmission error), Middle English modil (probably transmission error), Middle English–1500s meddel, Middle English–1500s meddyl, Middle English–1500s medel, Middle English–1500s medell, Middle English–1500s medill, Middle English–1500s medul, Middle English–1500s medull, Middle English–1500s medyl, Middle English–1500s medyll, Middle English–1500s medylle, Middle English–1700s medle, Middle English– meddle, 1500s meddyll, 1500s mydle, 1500s–1600s meddell; Scottish pre-1700 meaddille, pre-1700 meaddule, pre-1700 meadile, pre-1700 meadille, pre-1700 meadule, pre-1700 meddel, pre-1700 meddell, pre-1700 meddill, pre-1700 medel, pre-1700 medell, pre-1700 medill, pre-1700 medl, pre-1700 medle, pre-1700 metle, pre-1700 middill, pre-1700 midell, pre-1700 myddill, pre-1700 myddle, pre-1700 myddyll, pre-1700 mydill, pre-1700 mydle, pre-1700 mydyll, pre-1700 1700s– meddle, pre-1700 1700s– middle, pre-1700 1700s– midle. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French medler, mesler. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman medler (c1165), variant of Anglo-Norman and Old French mesler, meller (c1000 in Old French as mescler ; French mêler (1740)) < post-classical Latin misculare (9th cent.) < classical Latin miscēre to mix (see mixed adj.²) + -ulare , verbal ending of uncertain origin (perhaps compare -ule suffix, and post-classical Latin misculatio usurpation, encroachment (780)). Compare Old Occitan mesclar (mid 11th cent.), Spanish mezclar (1207 as mesclar ), Italian mescolare (14th cent.), mischiare (a1320). Compare mell v.¹ and medley v. (and etymological note at that entry).Anglo-Norman medler shows regular development from the earlier form mesler : in early Old French, /z/ > /ð/ (written -d- ) before a voiced dental consonant prior to its complete effacement in this position during the latter half of the Old French period (whence the form meller mell v.¹). This transitional stage persisted longer in Anglo-Norman than in continental French, and is reflected in several English loans of the period: meddle v. beside mell v.¹ is paralleled by medley n. beside mellay n.; compare also Middle English spellings of isle n., male adj. and n.¹, and medle n. The chief senses of the English verb are paralleled in Anglo-Norman and Old French, as to mix or mingle (things, c1000; of people, 1130), to fight (c1100), to interfere (c1160). Sense 4 is attested from the second half of the 15th cent. in Middle French. In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix). I. To mix or mingle. 1. †a. transitive. To mix or mingle (people) with, among (others) or together. Usually in passive. Also reflexive: to mix oneself in, among. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > specific persons meddlec1300 mella1387 c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) 281 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 227 (MED) In-to þe freytore he ladde heom þo, and sette heom..I-medlede with heore owene couent. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 149 (MED) Þere þey wonede long tyme afterwarde i-medled with Britouns. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 13002 Kynges & dukes of paien wer medled among cristen. a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) 1 Cor. v. 9 I wroot to ȝou..that ȝe be not medlid [1382 E.V. meynd, or comunen not; L. commisceamini] with letchours. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) i. 43 So medled theymself the one partye among the other. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) i. vii. 127 Himself alsua, mydlit, persavit he, Amang princis of Grece. 1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales ii. xviii. 59 By sorting and medling togither the runnagates, the new and raw soldier lately taken [etc.]..he marshalled them in forme of a legion. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxvii. xxxix. 967 Thus you see all the forces that the Romanes had besides two thousand Thracians and Macedonians medled and blended together. †b. intransitive. Of people: to mix or join in company. Of a person: to mingle, associate with others. Scottish in later use. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate together or with [verb (intransitive)] mingc1275 company1387 joinc1390 meddlec1390 herd?a1400 fellowshipc1430 enfellowship1470 to step in1474 accompany?1490 yoke?a1513 to keep with ——c1515 conjoin1532 wag1550 frequent1577 encroach1579 consort1588 sort1595 commerce1596 troop1597 converse1598 to keep (also enter, come into, etc.) commons1598 to enter common1604 atone1611 to walk (also travel) in the way with1611 minglea1616 consociate1638 associate1644 corrive1647 co-unite1650 walk1650 cohere1651 engage1657 mix1667 accustom1670 to make one1711 coalite1735 commerciate1740 to have nothing to say to (also with)1780 gang?1791 companion1792 mess1795 matea1832 comrade1865 to go around1904 to throw in with1906 to get down1975 c1390 W. Hilton Mixed Life (Vernon) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1895) I. 269 O tyme he [sc. our Lorde] comuned & medled wiþ men. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 5690 Soone he medeled [a1400 Vesp. menged] hem amonge. 1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 38 Alle the personys..that ever I medlyd with. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. iii. 43 I affeir me les the fatis onstable..consent nocht, ne aggre, That [etc.] Or list appreif thai peplis all and summyng Togiddir middle, or jone in lige or band. a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 27 Bot the erle of Lennox..freindis wald nocht consent that he meddillit mair with the governour. 1612 T. Studley & A. Todkill in W. Symonds Proc. Eng. Colonie iv. 24 This charitable humor prevailed, till well it chaunced they medled with Captaine Smith. 1656 in H. Paton Rep. Laing MSS (1914) I. 306 As for your perticular medl no mor with him in it. 1830 A. MacIntosh Let. 1 Oct. in W. Scott Tales of Grandfather 3rd Ser. III. v. 181 I hope..you will not offer to middle with any of my men. 1874 A. Hislop Bk. Sc. Anecd. (1875) 6 Frae that day to this I hae never meddlet wi' a probationer again. c. intransitive. To engage in conflict; to contend, fight. Chiefly with with; (occasionally) with against. Now rare (see quot. 1937). ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight [verb (intransitive)] fightc900 deal993 wraxlec1000 skirm?c1225 makec1275 mellc1300 to fight togethera1400 meddlec1400 match1440 wring1470 cobc1540 toilc1540 strike1579 beat1586 scuffle1590 exchange blows1594 to bang it out or aboutc1600 buffeta1616 tussle1638 dimicate1657 to try a friskin1675 to battle it1821 muss1851 scrap1874 to mix it1905 dogfight1929 yike1940 to go upside (someone's) head1970 c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xx. 178 (MED) Surgerye ne Fisyke May nouȝte a myte auaille to medle aȝein elde. 1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) ix. xxxv. sig. z^v For and I had sene his black sheld, I wold not haue medled with hym. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) iii. 100 Whan Alarde and Guycharde..saw that they myghte not passe, but that they muste medle, they spored theyr horses. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. R.v^v They medled so one with an other..that there was slaine .v. capitaynes. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 242 But when the Normans sawe them recule back..some sayde they are afrayde to medle wyth vs. c1600 (c1350) Alisaunder (Greaves) (1929) 93 That hee ne myght with þo menne medle no while. a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) iii. iv. 244 Therefore on, or strippe your sword starke naked: for meddle you must that's certain. View more context for this quotation c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1851) II. 97 The Kinges owne gaird..medles with thame and killis sum of thir apprenteissis. 1716 Boston News-let. 21 May 2/1 There is an English Pyrate Sloop about the Bahema Islands, with 150 Men on board, who say they meddle not with English or Dutch, but that they never consented to the Articles of Peace with the French and Spaniards. 1937 Amer. Speech 12 232/1 Negroes use meddle in the obsolete sense of ‘to fight’ (with), ‘engage in conflict’: ‘Him and Turk meddled last night outside the O.K. Bar.’ †2. a. transitive. To mix, mingle (a thing, often a liquid substance, or quality); to commingle; esp. to mix (one thing) with (another), or (two or more things) together. Also with among, in, to. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] mingeOE blandOE mongle?c1225 meddlec1350 sprengea1382 compoundc1384 intermeddlec1384 temperc1386 mell1387 found?c1390 joinc1400 intermell1413 commix?a1425 medley?a1425 mix?a1425 amenge?c1450 immix?a1475 immixt?a1475 minglea1475 tremp1480 commixt1481 incarry1486 mixtionc1500 mixta1513 demelle1516 confect1540 intermixt1551 intermingle1555 bemix1559 intermix1562 contemper1567 blenge1570 bemingle1574 contemperate1590 masha1591 commeddle1604 immingle1606 blenda1616 intemper1627 commingle1648 conferment1651 subigate1657 to mix up1672 mould1701 meine1736 caudle1795 combine1799 interblenda1849 inmix1892 meld1936 the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > prepare by mixing mingOE meddlec1350 compoundc1384 temper1390 mix1482 comfit1483 confect1575 mingle1587 to make up1649 concoct1676 amalgamate1821 to rub in1844 c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) lxxiv. 7 (MED) Grace ys, in þe honde of our Lord, ful of sharpenes medeled wyþ lyþenes. c1390 W. Hilton Mixed Life (Vernon) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1895) I. 267 (MED) Þow schalt medle þe werkes of actif lyf wiþ gostly werkes of contemplatyf lyf. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 81^v Oure lord hath I-medled spirit of gedines, Isyas. [Isaiah 19:14 miscuit in medio eius spiritum vertiginis.] c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. x. 3 (MED) Of erþe & eir it is mad, medlit togideris. ?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 50 (MED) It is a roche of white colour and a lytill medled with red. c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 874 And how she wep of teres ful his wounde; How medeleth she his blod with hire compleynte. a1500 (?c1378) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 456 (MED) Saracenes wiþ oþere sectis holden myche of cristis lawe, but oþere lawis þat þey meddlen maken þis sect displese to god..straunge lawis ben meddlid more vndir oure pope..þan þey ben meddlid in oþere sectis. 1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) i. 22 They are also blamefull that..medel other prayers, or other besynes with these holy houres. 1572 L. Mascall tr. D. Brossard L'Art et Maniere de Semer vii, in Bk. Plant & Graffe Trees 45 If ye do then meddle about eache tree of good fat earth or dung,..it shall be good. 1606 Bp. J. Hall Heauen vpon Earth xi. 84 Thy prosperity is Idle, & il spent if it be not medled with such fore-casting..thoughts. 1658 tr. G. della Porta Nat. Magick i. iii. 4 The Elements..are all changed, every one of them being more or less medled with one another. b. transitive. To prepare (a drink) by mixing. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) Apoc. xviii. 6 In the drinke that she medlide [L. miscuit] to ȝou, menge ȝe double to hir. ?a1425 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. iv. met. iii. 5 Cerces, the faire goddesse..medleth to hir newe gestes drynkes. c. transitive. To mix (goods) fraudulently. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > mix (wares) fraudulently meddlec1400 c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. vii. 260 Ich haue..Meddled my marchaundise and mad a good moustre. 1463–4 Rolls of Parl. V. 501 Noo persone..medell, or put in or uppon the same Cloth..eny Lambes Wolle. c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. xxx^v/1 Where as marchauntis haue vsed moche false pakyng of ther wood medlyng y^e bett' w^t y^e worse. 1622 L. Andrewes Serm. (1629) 231 Thus doth he medle his chaffe; mold in his soure levin into Christ's nova conspersio. d. transitive. To combine, blend (culinary or medical ingredients). Obsolete. ΚΠ c1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Vesp. B.xii) (1904) 56 (MED) Lete hem wele boyle to gideres and medille hem alway with a stike. 1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. bvj^v Medill the blode of the pecoke among the poudre. 1563 T. Gale Certaine Wks. Chirurg. iv. ii. f. 85^v He shall in his daylye drynke meddle three or foure droppes of the same. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 438 Take the ashes of 3 frogs..meddle them with hony. †3. intransitive. Of things: to mingle, combine. Also transitive (reflexive). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > become mixed or blended [verb (intransitive)] mingOE meddlec1350 mella1387 blenda1400 commix?1520 admixa1522 mixa1522 mingle1530 wallc1598 co-minglea1616 comminglea1626 congregate1626 intermingle1626 intermella1641 conflux1662 intermix1722 partake1731 to work up1841 interfuse1851 interblend1854 immingle1858 inmix1892 meld1959 c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 28 (MED) Ase oþer mete, Into þy wombe hyȝt sedlyþ; Ac ne defiþ nauȝt, ase þy mete Wyþ þyne flesch medlyþ. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 1586 (MED) Whan wordes medlen with the song, It doth plesance wel the more. c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame 2102 I shal never fro the go..We wil medle us ech with other. a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 22 More to know Did neuer medle with my thoughts. View more context for this quotation 4. intransitive. To have sexual intercourse (with). Occasionally (as quot. ?1573) transitive. Now U.S. regional (southern).Cf. mix v. 3b. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity [verb (intransitive)] > have sexual intercourse playOE to do (also work) one's kindc1225 bedc1315 couple1362 gendera1382 to go togetherc1390 to come togethera1398 meddlea1398 felterc1400 companya1425 swivec1440 japea1450 mellc1450 to have to do with (also mid, of, on)1474 engender1483 fuck?a1513 conversec1540 jostlec1540 confederate1557 coeate1576 jumble1582 mate1589 do1594 conjoin1597 grind1598 consortc1600 pair1603 to dance (a dance) between a pair of sheets1608 commix1610 cock1611 nibble1611 wap1611 bolstera1616 incorporate1622 truck1622 subagitate1623 occupya1626 minglec1630 copulate1632 fere1632 rut1637 joust1639 fanfreluche1653 carnalize1703 screw1725 pump1730 correspond1756 shag1770 hump1785 conjugate1790 diddle1879 to get some1889 fuckeec1890 jig-a-jig1896 perform1902 rabbit1919 jazz1920 sex1921 root1922 yentz1923 to make love1927 rock1931 mollock1932 to make (beautiful) music (together)1936 sleep1936 bang1937 lumber1938 to hop into bed (with)1951 to make out1951 ball1955 score1960 trick1965 to have it away1966 to roll in the hay1966 to get down1967 poontang1968 pork1968 shtup1969 shack1976 bonk1984 boink1985 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 290^v Þe leonesse medleþ in lecchery wiþ þe pard. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xi. 335 (MED) Alle other bestes Medled nouȝte wyth here makes þat with fole were. a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 24 (MED) ‘Wel,’ he seyd, ‘þan schal I medyl ȝow a-geyn.’ ?a1450 ( J. Lydgate Serpent of Division (McClean) (1911) 63 (MED) Hit sempte vnto hym in his slepe þat he medled fleschely with his owne moder. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 10811 Wemen allone Withouten mon owther make, to medill hom with. a1544 R. Layton Let. in T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. (1655) vi. 318 Making her believe, that..as ofte as they shold medle together, if she were..confessed by him,..she shold be cleere forgeven of God. ?1573 L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes f. 75 ^v Their women [are] commen for all men at al tymes to medle [1583 medle with]. c1600 (c1350) Alisaunder (Greaves) (1929) 964 Dame,..Þou haste medled amis, methynk, by thy chere. 1695 W. Congreve Love for Love i. xi. 10 I never could meddle with a Woman, that had to do with any body else. 1718 Boston News-let. No. 724. 2/2 Some Weeks ago to the Westward of that place, a very remarkable thing fell out, (which we here relate as a caveat for all Negroes medling for the future with any white women, least they fare with like treatment,) [etc.]. 1975 Amer. Speech 50 62 Meddle, have sexual intercourse with (one). II. To concern oneself or interfere (with). †5. transitive (reflexive). To concern or busy oneself. Chiefly with with, of, after. Also (occasionally): to oppose oneself or set oneself against. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or busy oneself [verb (reflexive)] > concern or involve oneself entermete?c1225 intermitc1340 meddlea1375 mella1375 intermeddle1483 intermell1550 a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2492 (MED) Many man by his miȝt medled him þer-after. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xii. 16 Þow medlest þe with makynges. 1442 Rolls of Parl. V. 54 Some haven Shippes of here owne, and some medle hem of freight of Shippes. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) 10845 (MED) Medle the ryht nouht Tarest pylgrymes by vyolence. 1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) xx. vii. sig. bb.iiij I wyl not medle me therof. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 634/1 You medyll you with maters that you have naught to do with. a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iii. sig. B.j^v Nourse medle you with your spyndle. 1563 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 50 I wes almaist astoneist..that sa obscuir men durst presume to medle thame aganis all auctoritie. 1671 in W. Fraser Memorials Family Wemyss (1888) III. 134 To meaddule not yourself with that affeaire. 6. a. intransitive. †To set to work, to busy oneself (obsolete); to concern oneself unduly, to interfere. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > acting in another's business or intervention > act in another's business or intervene [verb (intransitive)] > interfere or meddle entermeenec1449 intermit1456 intromit?a1475 intermeddle1477 intromeddle1524 to put (also have) an oar in every man's boat1542 to put (also stick, shove, etc.) one's oar in1542 to have a hand in the dish1551 pudder1624 mird?c1625 to mell or make with1634 potter1655 dabble1660 meddle1711 interfere1743 to bugger about1937 to bugger around1961 a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2325 (MED) Many miȝti man manliche medled þat time. a1422 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 448 (MED) No brother presume..to make no maistri, ne for to medle on the day of the feste. a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) vii. 1262 (MED) Trouthe durst nat medle; abak stood rihtwisnesse. 1545 Bp. S. Gardiner Let. c5 Nov. (1933) 168 I wold not medle so farre as to avaunce my self further in the matter. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. ii. f. 9^v They shuld meddle no further than their commission. 1686 F. Spence tr. A. Varillas Ἀνεκδοτα Ἑτερουιακα 22 There are Connexions..in point of Traffick, which are only well known by those that meddle that way. 1711 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 28 Aug. (1948) I. 346 I was advising him to use his interest to prevent any misunderstanding between our ministers; but he is too wise to meddle. 1859 A. Cary Pictures Country Life 303 She had better attend her own affairs, and I will tell her so if she comes here meddling. 1860 R. W. Emerson Wealth in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 93 Do not legislate. Meddle, and you snap the sinews with your sumptuary laws. 1915 F. M. Hueffer Good Soldier i. vi. 83 She meddled between him and Leonora from a sheer, imbecile spirit of district visiting. 1986 Z. Tomin Stalin's Shoe vi. 107 Mother please, stop meddling! b. intransitive. To concern or busy oneself, to deal with, †of; to interpose, take part in (now archaic or historical); to concern oneself unduly with, interfere in (also (U.S.) into). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > be occupied or busy (in or at something) [verb (intransitive)] > be involved in or have to do with something entermetec1300 to make (a) market1340 meddlec1390 to do with ——a1400 mell1416 intermeddle1477 intermell1480 to have art or (and) part ina1500 participate1531 to have a finger (also hand) in the pie?1553 tigc1598 get1727 concern1791 involve1843 to mix up1882 tew1891 to screw with ——1973 c1390 G. Chaucer Melibeus 2731 He is coupable that entremetteth hym or medleth with swich thyng as aperteneth nat vn to hym. c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 1424 Medleth namoore with that art... For if ye doon, youre thrift is goon ful clene. 1415 T. Hoccleve Addr. to Sir John Oldcastle l. 137 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 12 Lete holy chirche medle of the doctryne Of Crystes lawes. 1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 16 Ony ware Of whiche I medle with Or that I haue vnder hande. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Thess. iv. 11 We beseche you..that ye studdy to be quyet and to medle with your owne busynes. 1528 S. Gardiner in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation (1870) I. 123 It should be well done your grace meddled not as judge in the matter. 1528–30 tr. T. Littleton Tenures (new ed.) f. xliiii A perpetual chauntery wherof the ordynary hath nothyng to medle nor to do. 1545 in Vicary's Anat. Bodie of Man (1888) App. xv. 288 The Bochers..haue..inhaunsed the prices of all kyndes of vytayles that they medle withall & putt to sale. 1622 R. Harris Serm. 8 Happie that State wherein the Cobler meddles with his last, the Tradesman with his shop. 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 154 Hee meddles in an infinite number of things with equall capacitie. 1694 J. Ray Let. 23 Apr. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 200 The slender-bill'd [birds]..seldome meddle with dry seeds unlesse driven by hunger. 1774 B. Franklin & G. Whately Princ. Trade 33 It wou'd be beter if Government medled no farther with Trade, than to protect it. 1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 14 Wholly unacquainted with the world in which they are so fond of meddling . View more context for this quotation 1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) II. 462 It [sc. the statute] does not meddle with wills. 1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xvii. 273 Some evil persons..might be disposed to meddle with us, if they saw our wagon. 1865 G. Grote Plato I. ii. 95 Philosophers who meddled less with debate and more with facts. 1873 J. H. Newman Hist. Sketches II. iii. i. 328 His enemies accused him of..meddling in matters which did not belong to him. 1916 G. Saintsbury Peace of Augustans i. 41 It is difficult to be certain whether he would have long meddled with the stage if he had not, as a political reward, got shares in theatrical patents. 1954 ACLS Newslet. 5 No. 2 To abstain from the temptation to meddle into the inner affairs of other departments. 1955 J. P. Donleavy Ginger Man xvii. 187 Who's been meddling with the dresser and pulling out the drawers? 1993 USA Weekend 28 Feb. 4/2 We had 12 years of hands-off Republican presidents who said government should not meddle in people's lives. †c. intransitive. Phrases and proverbial sayings. Obsolete.neither make nor meddle, etc.: see make v.¹ 57. ΚΠ 1562 J. Heywood Prov. ii. iii. G Who medleth in all thyng, maie shooe the goslyng. 1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor iii. ii. sig. G^v Nay he wil not meddle with his match I warrant you. View more context for this quotation 1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 200 It is ill medling between the Bark and the Rind. 1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 246 Meddle with your Match... You dare not meddle with your Match. d. intransitive. to meddle and muddle: to interfere in an inept and disruptive manner. Used chiefly in political contexts, after quot. 1864. ΚΠ 1862 J. G. Holland Lessons in Life 206 An honestly-loving heart and an ordinarily clear brain, that nobody has been allowed to meddle with and muddle, will tell a man where he belongs and what he ought to do.] 1864 Ld. Derby in Parl. Deb. 3rd Ser. 173 28 The foreign policy of the noble Earl [sc. Ld. John Russell],..may be summed up in two short homely but expressive words—‘meddle and muddle’. 1880 Catholic World Jan. 562/1 Nations great as well as small have abundant occupation in strictly attending to their own business..without going abroad to watch over other interests, or, as a distinguished statesman once put it, to ‘meddle and muddle’. 1892 N. Amer. Rev. Feb. 175 With the transference of India to the Crown came advantages and disadvantages... Among the latter [was] the mischief of getting India ‘meddled and muddled’ by entanglement with the House of Commons debates. 1966 Times 4 Aug. 7/6 The right hon. gentleman (he said) is a meddler and a muddler... Part IV of this Bill and Parts II and III will increase his powers to meddle and muddle. 2001 Scotsman (Nexis) 8 Oct. 9 The Conservative leader, Iain Duncan Smith, claimed Labour had ‘meddled and muddled’ with the railways since coming to power in 1997. 7. transitive. To deal with; to interfere with; to trouble, bother; to harm. Now chiefly regional (Irish English, Scottish, and southern U.S.). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > have to do with or be involved in or with to have to do with (also mid, of, on)lOE meddle1413 intromit1522 fretc1540 make1564 to have a finger in1583 converse1592 cope with1594 trade1595 play1928 1413 in F. A. Page-Turner Bedfordshire Wills (1914) 20 (MED) Non of my executours medle or minister any þyng of my godes withoute auis & consent of my surveours. 1461 H. Windsor in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 251 Yf ye had neuer medulled the godez of my Maister F. 1523 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 400 No town dweller shall meddell nor interrupte nor occupie no mans occupacion or sience..but only his own sienc. 1607 T. Lake Let. 16 Jan. in Cal. MSS Marquis of Salisbury (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1965) XIX. 11 My Lord of Dunbar has apprehended of late divers..of the most ancient thieves and receivers of thieves that were there abiding; and many of them such as durst not beforetime be meddled, which his Majesty thinks by this time to have suffered the law. 1832 H. Smith Poet. Misc. 38 Although I wouldna meddle thee, More timid ye would need to be. 1857 Misty Morning (2nd Thousand) 18 He'll bite onybody that wad come to meddle me. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders iv. 42 Let my hair alane—my hair's no meddlin' you! 1929 T. T. Paterson Paterson's Sc. Readings 4 Wha's been meddlin' the wean? 1942 Scots Mag. May 106 Ye needna be feared at the cattle-beasts. They'll no meddle ye. 1953 M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal 183/1 The dog won't meddle you. 1974 T. Morrison Sula i. 74 Sula was acting up,..meddling the newly married couple. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.1602v.c1300
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