In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
CUMBROUS
cumbersome, cumbrous
(adjective) difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight; “a cumbersome piece of machinery”; “cumbrous protective clothing”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
cumbrous (comparative more cumbrous, superlative most cumbrous)
Unwieldy because of its weight; cumbersome.
(obsolete) Giving trouble; vexatious.
A cloud of combrous gnattes do him molest
Source: Wiktionary
Cum"brous (km"brs), a.
1. Rendering action or motion difficult or toilsome; serving to obstruct or hinder; burdensome; clogging. He sunk beneath the cumbrous weight. Swift. That cumbrousand unwieldy style which disfigures English composition so extensively. De Quincey.
2. Giving trouble; vexatious. [Obs.] A clud of cumbrous gnats. Spenser.
– Cum"brous*ly, adv.
– Cum"brous*ness, n.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
5 November 2024
TEMPORIZE
(verb) draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time; “The speaker temporized in order to delay the vote”
Coffee Trivia
