encumber
English edit
Alternative forms edit
- incumber (archaic)
Etymology edit
From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber.
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
encumber (third-person singular simple present encumbers, present participle encumbering, simple past and past participle encumbered)
- (transitive) To load down something with a burden.
- 1951 November, K. Westcott Jones, “Parkeston Quay and the Antwerp Continental Service”, in Railway Magazine, page 760:
- In the reverse direction, creature comforts were not closely studied, and the vessel left Antwerp at 1 p.m., to arrive in Harwich at the awkward hour of 2 a.m. The boat train was waiting for the weary stream of passengers, who straggled up George Street, encumbered with luggage, or following burdened porters in the darkness.
- (transitive) To restrict or block something with a hindrance or impediment.
- 1906 – 1921, John Galsworthy, “Encounter”, in The Forsyte Saga, volume 1:
- He [Timothy Forsyte] had never committed the imprudence of marrying or encumbering himself in any way with children.
- (transitive) To burden with a legal claim or other obligation.
Synonyms edit
- See also Thesaurus:hinder
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
to load down
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to restrict
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to burden with a legal claim
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Further reading edit
- “encumber”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “encumber”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “encumber”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.