Dictionary

encumber en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ɛnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/
• /ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/

Etymology

From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”) (See cumber). By surface analysis, en- + cumber.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To load down something with a burden.
   • 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. 1951 November, K. Westcott Jones, “Parkeston Quay and the Antwerp Continental Service”, in Railway Magazine, page 760:
2. (transitive) To restrict or block something with a hindrance or impediment.
   • He [Timothy Forsyte] had never committed the imprudence of marrying or encumbering himself in any way with children. 1906 – 1921, John Galsworthy, “Encounter”, in The Forsyte Saga, volume 1:
3. (transitive) To burden with a legal claim or other obligation.

Forms

Antonyms

unencumber · disencumber · unload

Deriveds

unencumberable · encumbrous · encumberment · encumbrance · encumberer · overencumber

Relateds

cumber · cumbersome · unencumber · incumbrance

Translations (40)

it incombere (to load down) · mi whakawherū (to restrict) · it intralciare (to restrict) · cs obtížit (to load down) · de belasten (to restrict) · de behindern (to restrict) · it ostacolare (to restrict) · ru обременя́ть (to burden with a legal claim) · ru отягоща́ть (to load down) · el επιβαρύνω (to burden with a legal claim) · gl obstaculizar (to restrict) · bg затруднявам (to restrict) · cs ověsit (to load down) · pt atrapalhar (to restrict) · pt sobrecarregar (to load down) · fi estää (to restrict) · fi kuormittaa (to load down) · bg ограничавам (to restrict) · de aufbürden (to load down) · it caricare con ipoteca (to burden with a legal claim) · fi haitata (to burden with a legal claim) · fi haitata (to restrict) · mi whakawherū (to load down) · el επιβαρύνω (to load down) · mi whakarorerore (to restrict) · it caricare (to load down) · ru загроможда́ть (to restrict) · ru обременя́ть (to load down) · it ingombrare (to restrict) · cs zatížit (to load down) · de belasten (to burden with a legal claim) · gl lastrar (to load down) · az yükləmək (to load down) · mi whakarorerore (to load down) · ru стесня́ть (to restrict) · ro încurca (to restrict) · de belasten (to load down) · it gravare di ipoteca (to burden with a legal claim) · bg обременявам (to load down) · ga cuir isteach ar (to restrict)