Bother
Pronunciation
- enPR: bÅʹ-thÉ™r, IPA: /ˈbɒðər/
- AU IPA: ˈbɔðə(ɹ)
- UK IPA: ˈbɒðə(ɹ)
- Rhymes: -ɒðə(r)
- US IPA: ˈbɑðɚ
Origin
From Scots bauther, bather ("to bother"). Origin unknown. Perhaps related to Scots pother ("to make a stir or commotion, bustle"), also of unknown origin. Compare English pother ("to poke, prod"), variant of potter ("to poke"). More at potter.
Perhaps related to Irish bodhaire (noise), bodhraim (to deafen, annoy.) {Concise Oxford English Dictionary 2011}
Full definition of bother
Verb
- (transitive) To annoy, to disturb, to irritate.Would it bother you if I smoked?
- (intransitive) To feel care or anxiety; to make or take trouble; to be troublesome.Why do I even bother to try?
- Henry Jameswithout bothering about it
- (intransitive) To do something which is of negligible inconvenience.You didn't even bother to close the door.
Usage notes
This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive or the gerund (-ing). See
Noun
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.
Interjection
- 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!"