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encumber

   Also found in: Legal, Financial, Idioms 0.01 sec.
en·cum·ber  (n-kmbr)
tr.v. en·cum·bered, en·cum·ber·ing, en·cum·bers
1. To put a heavy load on; burden: a hiker who was encumbered with a heavy pack; a life that has always been encumbered with responsibilities.
2. To hinder or impede the action or performance of: restrictions that encumber police work.
3. To burden with legal or financial obligations: an estate that is encumbered with debts.

[Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, to block up : en-, in; see en-1 + combre, hindrance (from Gaulish *comboros).]

encumber, incumber [ɪnˈkʌmbə]
vb (tr)
1. to hinder or impede; make difficult; hamper encumbered with parcels after going shopping at Christmas his stupidity encumbers his efforts to learn
2. to fill with superfluous or useless matter
3. to burden with debts, obligations, etc.
[from Old French encombrer, from en-1 + combre a barrier, from Late Latin combrus, of uncertain origin]
encumberingly , incumberingly adv
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.encumber - hold back
confine, limit, throttle, trammel, restrain, restrict, bound - place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends"
bridle - put a bridle on; "bridle horses"
curb - keep to the curb; "curb your dogs"
clog - impede the motion of, as with a chain or a burden; "horses were clogged until they were tamed"

encumber
verb
1. burden, load, embarrass, saddle, oppress, obstruct, retard, weigh down The company is still labouring under the debt burden that it was encumbered with in the 1980s.
2. hamper, restrict, handicap, slow down, cramp, inhibit, clog, hinder, inconvenience, overload, impede, weigh down, trammel, incommode fishermen encumbered with bulky clothing and boots
Translations
encumber [ɪnˈkʌmbəʳ] VT [+ person, movement] → estorbar; (with debts) → cargar; [+ place] → llenar (with de) to be encumbered withtener que cargar con; [+ debts] → estar cargado de
encumber [ɪnˈkʌmbər] vt
to encumber o.s. with sth → s'encombrer de qch
to be encumbered by sth [+ luggage] → être encombré(e) de qch; [+ debts] → être criblé(e) de qch; [+ rules, regulations] → être surchargé(e) de qch
encumber
vtbeladen; (with debts) → belasten; encumbered property (Fin) → belasteter Grundbesitz
encumber [ɪnˈkʌmbəʳ] vt to encumber (with) (person, with luggage) → caricare (di); (with debts) → gravare (di); (room) → ingombrare (di)


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I would not, therefore, on my account, have you encumber one moment of your precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, especially as every visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of education, which I really wish to have attended to while she remains at Miss Summers's.
The Portuguese, who were more desirous of glory than wealth, did not encumber themselves with plunder, but with the utmost expedition pursued their enemies, in hopes of cutting them entirely off.
Firm, faithful, and devoted, full of energy, and zeal, and truth, he labours for his race; he clears their painful way to improvement; he hews down like a giant the prejudices of creed and caste that encumber it.
 
 
 
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