Encumber
Verb
- Restrict or burden (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult.
- Saddle (a person or estate) with a debt or mortgage.
- Fill or block up (a place).
Example Sentences
“He decided not to encumber her with his questions right before her big interview.”
“The hiker was encumbered by a backpack twice the size of what she actually needed.”
“The siblings were encumbered with the maintenance of their childhood home, so they decided to sell it.”
Word Origin
French, late 14th century
Why this word?
You might be more familiar with the word “unencumbered,” meaning “not having any burden or impediment,” but that adjective stems from this verb, “encumber.” It has a few usages, but all of them have a meaning related to the Old French root “encombrer,” meaning “block up.” “Combre” in Old French meant “river barrage,” so this was originally related to waterways getting blocked up, which is tied to one usage of this word. To encumber someone or something means movement is restricted or blocked up.
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