Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “meddling” come from?

Meddling derives from Middle English medlen, from Anglo-Norman medler, from Old French meller and mesler, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European mey-, meaning to mix or change.

meddling (English): That meddles; unwanted interference; present...

Definitions

  1. That meddles; unwanted interference; present...

Ancestry of “meddling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmeddleTo interfere in or with; to concern oneself with...
2Middle Englishmedlen—
3Anglo-Normanmesler—
4Latinmisculāre—
5Latinmisceō—
6Proto-Italicmikskōto mix
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmiḱ-sḱé-—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmeyḱ-to mix
9Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “meddling”

  • overmeddling
  • meddlingly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →