cumber

cumber
cumber (v.) c.1300, "to overthrow, destroy; to be overwhelmed; to harass," apparently from French, but O.Fr. combrer "to seize hold of, lay hands on, grab, snatch, take by force, rape," has not quite the same sense. Perhaps an aphetic formation from a verb akin to M.E. acombren "obstructing progress," from O.Fr. encombrer, from combre "obstruction, barrier," from V.L. *comboros "that which is carried together," perhaps from a Gaulish word. The likely roots are PIE *kom (see COM- (Cf. com-)) + *bher- (1) "to bear" (see INFER (Cf. infer)). Weakened sense of "to hamper, to obstruct or weigh down" is late 14c. Related: Cumbered; cumbering.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cumber — index clog, deter, disadvantage, encumber (hinder), hold up (delay), impede, load …   Law dictionary

  • cumber — *burden, encumber, weigh, weight, load, lade, tax, charge, saddle Analogous words: see those at ENCUMBER …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • cumber — [kum′bər] vt. [ME combren, aphetic < acombren < OFr encombrer < en (see EN 1) + combre, obstruction, barrier < VL * comboros, something brought together, ult. (? via Gaul) < IE * kom (see COM ) + base * bher , BEAR1] 1. to hinder… …   English World dictionary

  • Cumber — This interesting name is of medieval English origin and is a dialectal of the locational or topographical name Coombe, itself from any of the numerous places named with the Old English pre 7th Century cumb , denoting a short, straight valley.… …   Surnames reference

  • cumber-ground — cumˈber ground noun (Bible) A useless thing • • • Main Entry: ↑cumber …   Useful english dictionary

  • cumber — I. transitive verb (cumbered; cumbering) Etymology: Middle English combren, short for acombren, from Anglo French acumbrer, encumbrer more at encumber Date: 14th century 1. archaic trouble, harass 2. a. to hinder or encumber by being in …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cumber — cumberer, n. cumberment, n. /kum beuhr/, v.t. 1. to hinder; hamper. 2. to overload; burden. 3. to inconvenience; trouble. n. 4. a hindrance. 5. something that cumbers. 6. Archaic. embarrassment; trouble. [1250 1300; ME cumbre (n …   Universalium

  • cumber — verb To slow down, to hinder, to burden. 1886 Scott, Sir Walter The Fortunes of Nigel. Pub.: Adams Charles Black, Edinburgh; p321: Syn: encumber See Also: cumbersome, cumbrous, encumbrance, cumberground …   Wiktionary

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