meddle

verb

1. 1

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

   […] 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.

2. 2

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

   […]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.

3. 3

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

   [H]e cutt a lock of all their heare, / Which medling with their blood & earth, he threw / Into the graue,[…].

4. 4

   To have sex.

   But after god came to Adam and bad hym knowe his wyf flesshly as nature requyred / Soo lay Adam with his wyf vnder the same tree / and anone the tree whiche was whyte and ful grene as ony grasse and alle that came oute of hit / and in the same tyme that they medled to gyders there was Abel begoten / thus was the tree longe of grene colour

   Take a Rammes head that neuer medled with an Ewe, cut off at a blow, and the hornes onely taken away, boyle it well skinne and wooll together,[…].

Forms

past tense

meddled

past participle

meddled

present participle

meddling

third person singular

meddles