Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

meddle

/ˈmɛd.əl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.85 in modern English

Syllables: med-dle
IPA: /ˈmɛd.əl/

10

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

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

verb

To interest or engage oneself; to have to do (with), in a good sense.

Obsolete

verb

To mix (something) with some other substance; to commingle, combine, blend.

Obsolete

verb

American usage; Intransitive verb

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,[…]."

Etymology

From Middle English medlen, from Anglo-Norman medler, from Early Medieval Latin misculāre, derived from Latin misceō (“to mix”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *meyḱ-, medlen, mesler, misculō, misceō

Usage

Inflected Forms

meddles (present, singular) meddling (participle, present) meddled (participle, past) meddled (past) medle (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

meddlement meddler meddlesome overmeddle

Phrases

meddle and make

Synonyms

dabble stick one's nose into stick one's oar in bemingle combine ming admix amalgamate blend commingle intermingle intermix

Homonyms

medal metal (t-flapping) mettle (t-flapping)

Rhymes With

medal pedal peddle bedell weddell weddle medel wedel fedele wedell credle reddell

Questions

How do you pronounce meddle?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈmɛd.əl/.
What does meddle mean?: To interfere in or with; to concern oneself with unduly.
Where does meddle come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce meddle

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “meddle”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈmɛd.əl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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