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

Example Sentences

Yang’s resignation from the boards of Alibaba and Yahoo Japan should disencumber negotiations around a potential deal for those assets, a positive for the stock.

From Forbes • Jan. 18, 2012

He allowed Belisarius to disencumber himself of many useless consumers of food by sending the women, the children, and the slaves out of the City.

From Theodoric the Goth Barbarian Champion of Civilisation by Hodgkin, Thomas

It had saved the estate in the days when he had been almost beaten in the struggle to disencumber the vast holdings Isaac Travers' wide hands had grasped.

From The Turtles of Tasman by London, Jack

Whoever wishes to travel should first strive to disencumber himself of what is artificial, and then he will get on capitally. 

From A Visit to the Holy Land, Egypt, and Italy by Dulcken, H. W. (Henry William)

He intended to retreat through Nouaillé and by its bridge, but for safety and to disencumber the road he sent the more valuable of the loot-waggons by the short cut over the ford.

From Poitiers by Belloc, Hilaire