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• Encumber — En*cum ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Encumbered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Encumbering}.] [F. encombrer; pref. en (L. in) + OF. combrer to hinder. See {Cumber}, and cf. {Incumber}.] [Written also {incumber}.] 1. To impede the motion or action of, as with a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• encumber — early 14c., burden, vex, inconvenience, from O.Fr. encombrer to block up, hinder, thwart, from L.L. incombrare, from in in (see IN (Cf. in ) (2)) + combrus barricade, obstacle, probably from L. cumulus heap. Meaning hinder, hamper is attested in… …   Etymology dictionary

• encumber — *burden, cumber, weigh, weight, load, lade, tax, charge, saddle Analogous words: discommode, incommode, *inconvenience: clog, fetter, *hamper: impede, obstruct, block (see HINDER) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

• encumber — [v] bother, burden block, charge, clog, cramp, discommode, embarrass, hamper, handicap, hang up, hinder, hog tie*, hold up, impede, incommode, inconvenience, lade, load, make difficult, obstruct, oppress, overburden, overload, retard, saddle,… …   New thesaurus

• encumber — ► VERB ▪ be a burden or impediment to. ORIGIN Old French encombrer block up , from combre river barrage …   English terms dictionary

• encumber — [en kum′bər, inkum′bər] vt. [ME encombren < OFr encombrer: see EN 1 & CUMBER] 1. to hold back the motion or action of, as with a burden; hinder; hamper 2. to fill in such a way as to obstruct; block up; obstruct 3. to load or weigh down, as… …   English World dictionary

• encumber — v. (D; tr.) to encumber with * * * [ɪn kʌmbə] (D; tr.) to encumber with …   Combinatory dictionary

• encumber — UK [ɪnˈkʌmbə(r)] / US [ɪnˈkʌmbər] verb [transitive] Word forms encumber : present tense I/you/we/they encumber he/she/it encumbers present participle encumbering past tense encumbered past participle encumbered formal 1) if something large, heavy …   English dictionary

• encumber — transitive verb ( cumbered; encumbering) Etymology: Middle English encombren, from Anglo French encumbrer, from en + Middle French combre dam, weir Date: 14th century 1. weigh down, burden < tourists encumbered by heavy luggage > 2. to impede or… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• encumber — en|cum|ber [ınˈkʌmbə US ər] v [T usually passive] [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: encombrer, from combre something that prevents movement ] formal to make it difficult for you to do something or for something to happen = ↑burden ▪ He died …   Dictionary of contemporary English