encumber
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English
Alternative forms
- incumber (archaic)
Etymology
From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber. By surface analysis, en- + cumber.
Pronunciation
Verb
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
- See also Thesaurus:hinder
Antonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
to load down
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to restrict
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to burden with a legal claim
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Further reading
- “encumber”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “encumber”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
- Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “encumber”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
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