busybodyism

busybodyism

English

Etymology

From busybody +‎ -ism.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbɪzibɒdiɪzm̩/

Noun

busybodyism (uncountable)

1. The behaviour of a busybody; interfering, meddling. [from 19th c.]
   • 1842, Edgar Allan Poe, ‘The Mystery of Marie Rogêt’:

     ‘The suspicious circumstances which invest him, will be found to tally much better with my hypothesis of romantic busy-bodyism, than with the reasoner's suggestion of guilt.’