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Joined: Sep 2007
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2 |
Is there a word in English which means non-meddlesome? What word is used to describe one who does not interfere in the affairs and business of others?
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
Hmmm, I can think of a bunch of almosts.
Reserved is more about preserving your own privacy. Uninterested, and distant have the aspect of don't care added.
Disinterested or detached both indicate impartiality rather than just the act of not interfering.
Anyone got anything better?
PS Welcome and good question.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
sure: unintrusive, inofficious, hands-off, unengaged
-joe (laissez faire) friday
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
Yikes I knew it had been a hard day but I missed completely on all those.
Oh well, I'll stop AWADing and go home and make pickles.
Chow
PS I like unintrusive best, it has the same emotional tenor as non-meddlesome but sounds less awkward.
Last edited by Zed; 09/26/07 12:18 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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addict
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addict
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 631 |
The word "laissez-faire" comes to mind. Kind of.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
veteran
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veteran
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529 |
The word "laissez-faire" comes to mind. Kind of. Yeah Hydra, it also came to Joe Friday's mind intermittently. (see above) 
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
I just knew some folks didn't bother to read those intercalations.
-joe ('Mickey') friday
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 13
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 13 |
"Aloof" is the complete opposite, though it connotes anti-meddling, not neutrality.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2 |
I was interested in finding a word which does not express the thought in terms of a negative...i.e. not having un, dis, in, or non etc. as prefixes. Laissez-faire and hands off are close to what I want, but I thought perhaps there would be some eloquent sounding word which actually captures the virtue of not trying to influence the decisions of others...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
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enabling.
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