encumber
English · Thesaurus
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encumber
- /ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/
- /ɛnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/
Rhymes with -ʌmbə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”) (See cumber). By surface analysis, en- + cumber.
verb encumbers · encumbering · encumbered · incumber
- 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 burdene
- 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.
- To burden with a legal claim or other obligation.
Opposite: disencumber, unload, unencumber
Thesaurus
verb
Opposite: disencumber, unload, unencumber
Translations
Every language
verb to load down
| Português | sobrecarregar |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | belasten, aufbürden |
| Italiano | caricare, incombere |
| Ελληνικά | επιβαρύνω epivarýno |
| Русский | обременя́ть obremenjátʹ, отягоща́ть otjagoščátʹ |
verb to restrict
| Português | atrapalhar |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | behindern, belasten |
| Italiano | intralciare, ingombrare, ostacolare |
| Română | încurca |
| Русский | загроможда́ть zagromoždátʹ, стесня́ть stesnjátʹ |
verb to burden with a legal claim
| Deutsch | belasten |
|---|---|
| Italiano | caricare con ipoteca, gravare di ipoteca |
| Ελληνικά | επιβαρύνω epivarýno |
| Русский | обременя́ть obremenjátʹ |
Talk about this word "encumber." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/encumber. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. encumber. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/encumber "encumber." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/encumber.Cite this
@misc{encumber_2026,
title = {encumber},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/encumber},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
