encumber C2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction US /ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/ See IPA manual Freq #148416 Meanings 1 verb To weigh someone down or make movement difficult with a heavy load. The hikers were encumbered with heavy packs on the steep trail. 2 verb To hold something back or get in its way; to hinder. He had never encumbered himself with a family or a mortgage. 3 verb To burden property with a legal claim or debt. The estate was heavily encumbered with unpaid loans. Thesaurus Synonyms 2 verb · to hold something back or... restrainhinder ↔ Opposites disencumberunencumberunload Word family Forms encumberedencumberingencumbersincumbered Derived forms encumbererencumbermentencumbranceencumbrousoverencumberunencumberable Related forms cumbercumbersomeincumbranceunencumber Etymology AI details From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber. By surface analysis, en- + cumber. encombren Middle English encombrer Old French View etymology graph -> Topics Space, Position & Direction Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # encumber **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/ **Frequency rank:** 148416 ## Meanings 1. To weigh someone down or make movement difficult with a heavy load. 2. To hold something back or get in its way; to hinder. 3. To burden property with a legal claim or debt. ## Examples - The hikers were encumbered with heavy packs on the steep trail. - He had never encumbered himself with a family or a mortgage. - The estate was heavily encumbered with unpaid loans. ## Antonyms - disencumber - unencumber - unload ## Derived Forms - encumberer - encumberment - encumbrance - encumbrous - overencumber - unencumberable ## Related Forms - cumber - cumbersome - incumbrance - unencumber ## Roots and Affixes - Root: encombren - Root: encombrer ## Etymology From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber. By surface analysis, en- + cumber. ## AI Etymology Encumber is from Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber. By surface analysis, en- + cumber. In present-day use, it can mean to weigh someone down or make movement difficult with a heavy load, or to hold something back or get in its way; to hinder. Derived formations include encumberer, encumberment, encumbrance, encumbrous, and overencumber. ## Topics - Space, Position & Direction - Actions & Processes - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown