Cumbered

1 definition 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.
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           Why asks he what avails him not in fight,
           And would but cumber and retard his flight? --Dryden.
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           Martha was cumbered about much serving.  --Luke x. 40.
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           Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? -- Luke xiii.
                                                    7.
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           The multiplying variety of arguments, especially
           frivolous ones, . . . but cumbers the memory. --Locke.
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