Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To interfere in the affairs of others, often officiously; meddle.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To take part in some matter; especially, to interfere officiously or impertinently; take part in business with which one has no concern.
  • To give one's self concern.
  • Synonyms Interfere, Intervene, etc. See interpose.
  • To intermix; mingle; mix up.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb obsolete To intermix; to mingle.
  • intransitive verb To meddle with the affairs of others; to meddle officiously; to interpose or interfere improperly; to mix or meddle with.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English entermedlen, from Old French entremedler : entre-, between (from Latin inter-; see inter–) + medler, to mix; see meddle.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Anglo-Norman entremedler (= Old French entremesler), from inter- + medler.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word intermeddle.

Examples

  • The militia committee was ordered to draw up a declaration in justification of all that the civic authorities had done, whilst a letter was sent (28 July) to Fairfax deprecating any attempt by the army to "intermeddle" with the liberties or privileges of the city or to interpose in the matter of the militia, which should be used only in defence of parliament and the city without giving occasion for offence to anyone.

    London and the Kingdom - Volume II

  • I have considered it as a matter between every man and his Maker in which no other, and far less the public, had a right to intermeddle.

    On Same-Sex Couples and Catfish Derbies 2009

  • The French demanded that the nations “not intermeddle, unless they had a mind to draw all their force upon them.”

    George Washington’s First War David A. Clary 2011

  • The French demanded that the nations “not intermeddle, unless they had a mind to draw all their force upon them.”

    George Washington’s First War David A. Clary 2011

  • The French demanded that the nations “not intermeddle, unless they had a mind to draw all their force upon them.”

    George Washington’s First War David A. Clary 2011

  • I have considered it as a matter between every man and his Maker in which no other, and far less the public, had a right to intermeddle.

    On Same-Sex Couples and Catfish Derbies 2009

  • The French demanded that the nations “not intermeddle, unless they had a mind to draw all their force upon them.”

    George Washington’s First War David A. Clary 2011

  • Officious Intermeddler, You are officially permitted to intermeddle in support of my points any time, please feel free...you seem to have done all the heavy lifting here...adieu

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Second Circuit rules in favor of firearms dealers on procedural due process: 2009

  • Etherington judge of him, and what an ass was I to intermeddle! —

    Saint Ronan's Well 2008

  • Mrs. Jervis, and Jonathan too, joined in a body, in a bold appeal to Lady Davers, which has given her the insolent handle she has taken to intermeddle in my affairs, I could easily have forgiven all the rest of their conduct; though they have given their tongues no little license about me: But I could have forgiven them, because

    Pamela 2006

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.