cumbrous

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

UK /ˈkʌmbɹəs/ See IPA manual

Freq #555859

Meanings

1

adj
Unwieldy because of size or weight; cumbersome.

Possession's load was grown so great, / He sunk beneath the cumbrous weight: […].
2

adj
Causing hindrance or obstruction.

But aftervvards, the Gauls ceaſed to moleſt and trouble, and the Romans gave over to fear, ſo ſoon as they vvere paſſed, and eſcaped the rough, cumbrous, and unpaſſable forreſts.
3

adj
Giving annoyance or trouble; troublesome, vexatious.

A cloud of cumbrous gnattes doe him moleſt, / All ſtriuing to infixe their feeble ſtinges, / That from their noyance he no vvhere can reſt, / But vvith his clovvniſh hands their tender vvings, / He bruſheth oft, and oft doth mar their murmurings.
4

adj
difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · unwieldy because of size or... encumbrous

2 adj · causing hindrance or... cumbersome

3 adj · giving annoyance or... cumbersome wearisome

4 adj · difficult to handle or use... cumbersome

Word family

Derived forms cumbrouslycumbrousnessuncumbrous

Related forms accumbercumbercumberedcumberercumbergroundcumberingcumberlesscumbermentcumbersomecumberworldencumber encumbered

Etymology

From Late Middle English combrous (“causing obstruction; clumsy; obstructed; bothersome, difficult; burdensome, onerous; serious; causing trouble, troublesome; dangerous; immoral; unjust, wrongful; upset”) [and other forms], from komber, kumbre (“distress; destruction”) + -ous (suffix forming adjectives). The English word is analysable as cumber + -ous.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# cumbrous

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkʌmbɹəs/
**Frequency rank:** 555859

## Meanings
1. Unwieldy because of size or weight; cumbersome.
2. Causing hindrance or obstruction.
3. Giving annoyance or trouble; troublesome, vexatious.
4. difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight

## Examples
- Possession's load was grown so great, / He sunk beneath the cumbrous weight: […].
- But aftervvards, the Gauls ceaſed to moleſt and trouble, and the Romans gave over to fear, ſo ſoon as they vvere paſſed, and eſcaped the rough, cumbrous, and unpaſſable forreſts.
- A cloud of cumbrous gnattes doe him moleſt, / All ſtriuing to infixe their feeble ſtinges, / That from their noyance he no vvhere can reſt, / But vvith his clovvniſh hands their tender vvings, / He bruſheth oft, and oft doth mar their murmurings.

## Derived Forms
- cumbrously
- cumbrousness
- uncumbrous

## Related Forms
- accumber
- cumber
- cumbered
- cumberer
- cumberground
- cumbering
- cumberless
- cumberment
- cumbersome
- cumberworld
- encumber
- encumbered

## Etymology
From Late Middle English combrous (“causing obstruction; clumsy; obstructed; bothersome, difficult; burdensome, onerous; serious; causing trouble, troublesome; dangerous; immoral; unjust, wrongful; upset”) [and other forms], from komber, kumbre (“distress; destruction”) + -ous (suffix forming adjectives). The English word is analysable as cumber + -ous.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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