meddling

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: tamperinginterferingmeddlesomeofficiousbusybusybodied

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. the act of altering something secretly or improperlySynonyms: tampering

Adjective (1)

  1. intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner“an interfering old woman”“bustling about self-importantly making an officious nuisance of himself”“busy about other people's business”Synonyms: interferingmeddlesomeofficiousbusybusybodied
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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. [root]271. See Mix, and cf. Medley, Mellay.] [1913 Webster]

1.To mix; to mingle. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

More to know Did never meddle with my thoughts.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.To interest or engage one's self; to have to do; -- in a good sense. [Obs.] --Barrow. [1913 Webster]

Study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business.— Tyndale.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Why shouldst thou meddle to thy hurt?— 2 Kings xiv. 10.[1913 Webster]
The civil lawyers . . . have meddled in a matter that belongs not to them.— Locke.[1913 Webster]

To meddle and make, to intrude one's self into another person's concerns. [Archaic] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To interpose; interfere; intermeddle. [1913 Webster]

Meddling \Med"dling\, a. Meddlesome. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
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