---
title: meddle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «meddle» in the school dictionary: To get involved in someone else's business when you are not wanted, and often make things worse. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# meddle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, our, little brother, my, nosy neighbour, I · **What happens:** get, not want, make, touch, fiddle, leave · **To what, where:** business, you, things, argument, model, kids · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«meddle» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [meddle in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/meddle.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To get involved in someone else's business when you are not wanted, and often make things worse.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meddle:m1:1
# text = To get involved in someone else's business when you are not wanted, and often make things worse.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	involved	involved	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod:poss	_	_
6	else	else	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
8	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	13	mark	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	wanted	want	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
18	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
19	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	17	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | someone's business |  | involved *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **not** **want** | present · passive |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **make** | present |  | things |  |  |  | bad, often *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset thing=Product |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To touch or fiddle with something you should leave alone: «don't meddle with the wires».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meddle:m2:1
# text = To touch or fiddle with something you should leave alone: «don't meddle with the wires».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	touch	touch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	fiddle	fiddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	meddle	meddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	wires	wire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **touch** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **fiddle** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with something | vn trifle-105.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with something=Theme |
| 3 | **leave** | should | you |  |  |  |  | alone *property* | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **meddle** *in a quote* | infinitive · do-support |  |  |  |  |  | with the wires | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please don't meddle in our argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meddle:x1:1
# text = Please don't meddle in our argument.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	meddle	meddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **meddle** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | our argument |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **argue** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom argument «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother meddled with my model and broke it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meddle:x2:1
# text = My little brother meddled with my model and broke it.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	meddled	meddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meddle** | participle | My little brother |  |  |  |  | with my model | tree rules |
| 2 | **break** | past | My little brother *not said here* | model |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Patient |
| 3 | **model** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom model «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never meddle with electric sockets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meddle:x3:1
# text = Never meddle with electric sockets.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	meddle	meddle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	electric	electric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sockets	socket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **meddle** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with electric sockets | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nosy neighbour always meddles in other people's business.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meddle:x4:1
# text = The nosy neighbour always meddles in other people's business.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nosy	nosy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	5	advmod	_	_
5	meddles	meddle	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meddle** | present | the nosy neighbour |  |  | other people's business |  | always *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I would have got away with it, if it weren't for you meddling kids!»

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meddle:x5:1
# text = «I would have got away with it, if it weren't for you meddling kids!»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux	_	_
5	got	get	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
10	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj:outer	_	_
12	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
14	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	meddling	meddle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
17	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get away** *in a quote* | would · perfect | I |  |  |  |  | with it; away *property* | vn withdraw-82-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **meddle** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | past · progressive | it | kids |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She meddled with the TV settings and now nothing works.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meddle:x6:1
# text = She meddled with the TV settings and now nothing works.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	meddled	meddle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	settings	setting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	10	advmod	_	_
9	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	10	nsubj	_	_
10	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meddle** | past | She |  |  |  |  | with the TV settings | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | present | nothing |  |  |  | now |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma says it's best not to meddle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meddle:x7:1
# text = Grandma says it's best not to meddle.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	best	well	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	8	advmod	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	meddle	meddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Grandma |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | meddle, well *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Countries should not meddle in other countries' elections.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meddle:x8:1
# text = Countries should not meddle in other countries' elections.
1	Countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	meddle	meddle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	elections	election	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **meddle** | should | Countries |  |  | other countries's elections |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **elect** |  | other countries |  |  |  |  |  | nom election «act transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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