bother English · revision 5476

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1718|origins=ga bodhar}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈbɒð.ə/, US /ˈbɑː.ðɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of uncertain origin, but its first users were Irish writers, Sheridan, Swift and Sterne, which suggests an Irish source.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) It is probably [[bor|ga|bodhar|t=deaf, confused, annoyed]], or a related word,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) such as Irish bodhaire “deafness, noise” and bodhraim “to deafen, annoy”,^(SOED 2002)^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998) from Old Irish bodar “deaf”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline suggests it came through Anglo-Irish pother.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a dialect noun, noise or chatter: the late 17th century.^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021) The verb, to bewilder with noise, to confuse: 1718, in Sheridan.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to give trouble to, pester, annoy” is from before 1745, in Swift.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) In the 18th century the emphasis moved from noise to worry and trouble,^(Cresswell 2021) and to take trouble, make a fuss, is from before 1774.^(OED 1989) The noun, petty trouble or fuss, is from 1834.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The word quickly spread beyond Ireland, and in the 19th century it was a common mild oath in Dickens and Thackeray; the imperative ''bother!'' is from 1840.^(Cresswell 2021)^(OED 1989) ''Bovver'', deliberate troublemaking, as in ''bovver boots'', is a late-1960s Cockney pronunciation of it.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 17th century – noise, chatter (dialect).^(SOED 2002)

+ * 1718 – to confuse with noise.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1745 – to annoy.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1834 – petty trouble.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1840 – ''bother!''^(OED 1989)

+ * late 1960s – ''bovver''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[annoy]] or worry someone, especially by small troubles.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To interrupt or disturb someone.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To take the trouble to do something: ''don't bother to call''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of an illness or injury, to cause pain or discomfort.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Trouble, effort or difficulty.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A person or thing that causes trouble or annoyance.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' A mild expression of [[annoyance]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[botheration]]

+ * [[bothersome]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pother]]

+ * [[bovver]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}