bother
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Scots bauther, bather "to bother". Origin unknown. Perhaps related to Scots pother "to make a stir or commotion, bustle", also of unknown origin.
Perhaps related to Irish bodhaire (noise), bodhraim (to deafen, annoy.) {Concise Oxford English Dictionary 2011}
Pronunciation [edit]
- enPR: bŏʹ-thər, IPA: /ˈbɒðər/, X-SAMPA: /"bQD@r/
- (Australia) IPA: [ˈbɔðə(ɹ)]
- (UK) IPA: [ˈbɒðə(ɹ)]
- (US) IPA: [ˈbɑðɚ]
Verb [edit]
bother (third-person singular simple present bothers, present participle bothering, simple past and past participle bothered)
- (transitive) To annoy, to disturb, to irritate.
- Would it bother you if I smoked?
- (intransitive) To do something at one's own inconvenience.
- Why do I even bother to try?
- (intransitive) To do something which is of negligible inconvenience.
- You didn't even bother to close the door.
Synonyms [edit]
Usage notes [edit]
- This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive or the gerund (-ing). See Appendix:English catenative verbs
Translations [edit]
to annoy, disturb
|
|
to do something at one's own inconvenience
|
|
to do something which is of negligible inconvenience
|
Noun [edit]
bother (countable and uncountable; plural bothers)
- Fuss, ado.
- There was a bit of bother at the hairdresser's when they couldn't find my appointment in the book.
- Trouble, inconvenience.
- Yes, I can do that for you - it's no bother.
Translations [edit]
fuss, ado
trouble, inconvenience
Interjection [edit]
bother!
- A mild expression of annoyance.
- 1926, A A Milne, Winnie the Pooh, Methuen & Co., Ltd., Chapter 2 ...in which Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place:
- "Oh, help!" said Pooh. "I'd better go back."
- "Oh, bother!" said Pooh. "I shall have to go on."
- "I can't do either!" said Pooh. "Oh, help and bother!"
- 1926, A A Milne, Winnie the Pooh, Methuen & Co., Ltd., Chapter 2 ...in which Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place:
