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Meddle vs Disturb - What's the difference?

meddle | disturb |

As verbs the difference between meddle and disturb

is that meddle is (obsolete) to mix (something) with some other substance; to commingle, combine, blend while disturb is to confuse a quiet, constant state or a calm, continuous flow, in particular: thoughts, actions or liquids.

As a noun disturb is

(obsolete) disturbance.

meddle

English

Verb

(meddl)
  • (obsolete) To mix (something) with some other substance; to commingle, combine, blend.
  • *1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , II.i:
  • *:he cut a locke of all their heare, / Which medling with their bloud and earth, he threw / Into the graue.
  • *:
  • *: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
  • *, II.5.1.v:
  • *:Take a ram's head that never meddled with an ewe, cut off at a blow, and the horns only taken away, boil it well, skin and wool together.
  • (senseid)To interfere (in) or (with); to concern oneself with unduly.
  • *Bible, 2 Kings xiv.10:
  • *:Why shouldst thou meddle to thy hurt?
  • *John Locke
  • *:The civil lawyershave meddled in a matter that belongs not to them.
  • (obsolete) To interest or engage oneself; to have to do (with), in a good sense.
  • *Tyndale
  • *:Study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business.
  • :(Barrow)

    • Derived terms

    * meddlement * meddlesome * meddler

    Anagrams

    *

    disturb

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to confuse a quiet, constant state or a calm, continuous flow, in particular: thoughts, actions or liquids.
    • The noisy ventilation disturbed me during the exam.
    The performance was disturbed twice by a ringing mobile phone.
    A school of fish disturbed the water.
  • to divert, redirect, or alter by disturbing.
    • A mudslide disturbed the course of the river.
    The trauma disturbed his mind.
  • * Milton
    • disturb his inmost counsels from their destined aim
  • to have a negative emotional impact; to cause emotional distress or confusion.
    • A disturbing film that tries to explore the mind of a serial killer.
    His behaviour is very disturbing .

    Derived terms

    * disturbance

    Noun

  • (obsolete) disturbance
    • (Milton)