cumber Meaning, Definition & Usage

Cum"ber transitive verb

Etymology

OE. combren, cumbren,OF. combrer to hinder, from LL. cumbrus a heap, fr. L. cumulus; cf. Skr. to increase, grow strong. Cf. Cumulate.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Cumbered present participle & verbal noun Cumbering

Definitions

1. To rest upon as a troublesome or useless weight or load; to be burdensome or oppressive to; to hinder or embarrass in attaining an object, to obstruct or occupy uselessly; to embarrass; to trouble.

   Why asks he what avails him not in fight, And would but cumber and retard his flight? Dryden.

   Martha was cumbered about much serving. Luke x. 40.

   Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? Luke xiii. 7.

   The multiplying variety of arguments, especially frivolous ones, . . . but cumbers the memory. Locke.

Cum"ber noun

Etymology

Cf. encombre hindrance, impediment. See Cuber,v.

Definitions

1. Trouble; embarrassment; distress. Obs. Written also comber.

   A place of much distraction and cumber. Sir H. Wotton.

   Sage counsel in cumber. Sir W. Scott.