bother

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To annoy or disturb someone.

   Would it bother you if I opened the window?

2. 2
   verb

   To take the trouble to do something.

   They didn't even bother to say goodbye.

3. 3
   verb

   To feel worried or concerned about something.

   Don't bother about the mess; I'll clean it up later.

Borrowed 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”), Irish bodhraim (“to deafen, annoy”).

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