bother
/ˈbɒðər/
verb
Origin
Irish
bodhar — deaf; to deafen or pester
Overview
Meaning Now
- To cause someone trouble, annoyance, or worry.
- To take the trouble to do something; to expend effort.
Language path
Middle Irish → Irish → English
Earliest form
bother
Earliest period
18th century
Journey
The word is widely believed to have originated from Irish-English speech patterns. The shift from 'deaf' to 'bother' suggests the irritation caused by someone talking incessantly or noisily, effectively 'deafening' the listener with unwanted input.
Evolution
- Old Irish
bodar
“deaf”
- Middle Irish
bodhraim
“I deafen or annoy”
Semantic shift from causing physical deafness to causing mental irritation through constant noise or interruption.
- 18th century English
bother
“to confuse, pester, or annoy”
Entered English via Irish English usage.
Connections
Word parts
bother
root
to cause trouble or annoyance
Related across languages
Irish
bodhar
deaf
Scottish Gaelic
bodhar
deaf
Explore next
Related to bother
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.