bother
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Trouble or annoyance. Any one oppressed with business cares is said to be BOTHERED. "Don’t BOTHER," is a common expression. BLOTHER, an old word, signifying to chatter idly.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bother” mean?
Trouble or annoyance. Any one oppressed with business cares is said to be BOTHERED. "Don’t BOTHER," is a common expression. BLOTHER, an old word, signifying to chatter idly.
Is “bother” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.