In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
restrain, encumber, cumber
(verb) restrict (someone or something) so as to make free movement difficult
Source: WordNet® 3.1
encumber (third-person singular simple present encumbers, present participle encumbering, simple past and past participle encumbered)
(transitive) to load down something with a burden
(transitive) to restrict or block something with a hindrance or impediment
(transitive) to burden with a legal claim or other obligation
• See also hinder
• disencumber, unload, unencumber
Source: Wiktionary
En*cum"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encumbered; p. pr. & vb. n. Encumbering.] Etym: [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 burden; to retard with something superfluous; to weigh down; to obstruct or embarrass; as, his movements were encumbered by his mantle; his mind is encumbered with useless learning. Not encumbered with any notable inconvenience. Hooker.
2. To load with debts, or other legal claims; as, to encumber an estate with mortgages.
Syn.
– To load; clog; oppress; overload; embarrass; perplex; hinder; retard; obstruct; check; block.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
5 June 2025
(verb) raise or support (the level of printing) by inserting a piece of paper or cardboard under the type; “underlay the plate”
In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.