Cumber

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cumber \Cum"ber\ (k?m"b?r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cumbered}
     (-b?rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cumbering}.] [OE. combren,
     cumbren,OF. combrer to hinder, from LL. cumbrus a heap, fr.
     L. cumulus; cf. Skr. ?? to increase, grow strong. Cf.
     {Cumulate}.]
     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.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Why asks he what avails him not in fight,
           And would but cumber and retard his flight? --Dryden.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Martha was cumbered about much serving.  --Luke x. 40.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? -- Luke xiii.
                                                    7.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The multiplying variety of arguments, especially
           frivolous ones, . . . but cumbers the memory. --Locke.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cumber \Cum"ber\ (k?m"b?r), n. [Cf. encombre hindrance,
     impediment. See Cuber,v.]
     Trouble; embarrassment; distress. [Obs.] [Written also
     {comber}.]
     [1913 Webster]
  
           A place of much distraction and cumber.  -- Sir H.
                                                    Wotton.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Sage counsel in cumber.                  --Sir W.
                                                    Scott.
     [1913 Webster] Cumberland

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cumber
       v : hold back [syn: {restrain}, {encumber}, {constrain}]