ENCUMBER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does encumber mean? 

• ENCUMBER (verb)
  The verb ENCUMBER has 1 sense:

1. restrict (someone or something) so as to make free movement difficult

  Familiarity information: ENCUMBER used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENCUMBER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they encumber    ... he / she / it encumbers   
Past simple: encumbered   
Past participle: encumbered   
-ing form: encumbering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Restrict (someone or something) so as to make free movement difficult

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

cumber; encumber; restrain

Hypernyms (to "encumber" is one way to...):

bound; confine; limit; restrict; throttle; trammel (place limits on (extent or amount or access))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "encumber"):

bridle (put a bridle on)

curb (keep to the curb)

clog (impede the motion of, as with a chain or a burden)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Her fortune was large, and our family estate much encumbered.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

That time, however, did gradually come, forwarded by an affection on his side as warm as her own, and much less encumbered by refinement or self-distrust.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

People of the name of Tupman, very lately settled there, and encumbered with many low connexions, but giving themselves immense airs, and expecting to be on a footing with the old established families.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Her dress was of a lavender colour, and perfectly neat; but scantily made, as if she desired to be as little encumbered as possible.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Firm, faithful, and devoted, full of energy, and zeal, and truth, he labours for his race; he clears their painful way to improvement; he hews down like a giant the prejudices of creed and caste that encumber it.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)