ENCUMBER

restrain, encumber, cumber

(verb) restrict (someone or something) so as to make free movement difficult

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

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

(transitive) to restrict or block something with a hindrance or impediment

(transitive) to burden with a legal claim or other obligation

Synonyms

• See also hinder

Antonyms

• 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



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Word of the Day

31 March 2025

IMPROVISED

(adjective) done or made using whatever is available; “crossed the river on improvised bridges”; “the survivors used jury-rigged fishing gear”; “the rock served as a makeshift hammer”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest iced coffee is 14,228.1 liters and was created by Caffé Bene (South Korea), in Yangju, South Korea, on 17 July 2014. They poured iced black Americano on the giant cup that measured 3.3 meters tall and 2.62 meters wide.

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