cumber

American  

[kuhm-ber] / ˈkʌm bər /

verb (used with object)

1. to hinder; hamper.

2. to overload; burden.

3. to inconvenience; trouble.

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noun

1. a hindrance.

2. something that cumbers.

3. Archaic. embarrassment; trouble.

cumber British  

/ ˈkʌmbə /

verb

1. to obstruct or hinder

2. obsolete to inconvenience

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noun

1. a hindrance or burden

Other Word Forms

• cumberer noun
• cumberment noun
• overcumber verb (used with object)
• uncumbered adjective

Etymology

Origin of cumber

1250–1300; Middle English cumbre (noun), cumbren (v.), aphetic variant of acumbren to harass, defeat; encumber

Example Sentences

“I can carry thee right well, as the good friar did. The harp and the crutches we shall strap on so they will not cumber us.”

From Literature

It made him feel cumbered and foolish, and he wondered once more why he was here.

From Literature

Within these modest limits we have brought the greater part of that monstrous host of crosses which cumber the dictionaries.

From Project Gutenberg

In every day of his life he was occupied with many things, but he was never cumbered.

From Project Gutenberg

This great ship cumbered Scotland to get her to sea.

From Project Gutenberg