disencumber

American  

[dis-en-kuhm-ber] / ˌdɪs ɛnˈkʌm bər /

verb (used with object)

1. to free from a burden or other encumbrance; disburden.

   Synonyms:

   unburden, disembarrass, disentangle

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disencumber British  

/ ˌdɪsɪnˈkʌmbə /

verb

1. (tr) to free from encumbrances

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Other Word Forms

• disencumberment
  noun

Etymology

Origin of disencumber

1590–1600; < Middle French desencombrer, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + encombrer to encumber

Explanation

To free someone from a burden or difficult situation is to disencumber them. You might try to disencumber yourself from the responsibility of walking the dog by bribing your sister to do it. Want to make your life less complicated or otherwise free yourself from some obstacle? You need to disencumber yourself. Things from which people disencumber themselves tend to be obligations, guilt, relationships, and other complexities of life. Disencumber comes from the verb encumber and its Latin source combrus, "barricade or obstacle."

Example Sentences

Disencumber yourselves of all attachment to this world and the vanities thereof.

From Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh by Bahá'u'lláh

Disencumber, dis-en-kum′bėr, v.t. to free from encumbrance: to disburden.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various