Both Uses of
meddle
in
Beloved, by Toni Morrison
- All the time, no matter what they were doing— whether Denver wiped perspiration from her forehead or stooped to retie her shoes; whether Paul D kicked a stone or reached over to meddle a child's face leaning on its mother's shoulder—all the time the three shadows that shot out of their feet to the left held hands.†
Part 1 *meddle = interfere (in another's affairs or business); or handle (something that shouldn't be handled)
- Maybe he should have left it alone; maybe Sethe would have gotten around to telling him herself; maybe he was not the high minded Soldier of Christ he thought he was, but an ordinary, plain meddler who had interrupted something going along just fine for the sake of truth and forewarning, things he set much store by.†
Part 2meddler = someone who interferes in other people's affairs or business
Definition:
interfere (in another's affairs or business)
or:
get involved with something where involvement isn't warranted
or:
get involved with something where involvement isn't warranted