burden

burden
{{11}}burden (1) O.E. byrðen "a load, weight, charge, duty;" also "a child;" from P.Gmc. *burthinjo "that which is borne" (Cf. O.N. byrðr, O.S. burthinnia, Ger. bürde, Goth. baurþei), from PIE *bher- (1) "carry, give birth." The shift from -th- to -d- took place beginning 12c. (Cf. MURDER (Cf. murder)). Archaic burthen is occasionally retained for the specific sense of "capacity of a ship." Burden of proof is recorded from 1590s.
{{12}}burden (2) "leading idea," 1640s, from earlier sense "refrain or chorus of a song," 1590s, originally "bass accompaniment to music" (late 14c.), from O.Fr. bordon "bumble-bee, drone," or directly from M.L. burdonom "drone, drone bass" (Cf. Fr. bourdon, Sp. bordon, Port. bordüo, It. bordone), of echoic origin.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • burden — bur·den n 1: something that is a duty, obligation, or responsibility the prosecution has the burden of proving every element of the offense the statute imposes undue burden s burden of pleading the necessary elements 2 …   Law dictionary

  • burden — bur‧den [ˈbɜːdn ǁ ˈbɜːrdn] noun [countable] 1. something that causes people a lot of difficulty or worry: • In less prosperous areas the taxes were, for many, such a burden that they lived in poverty. 2. particular costs such as taxes or interest …   Financial and business terms

  • Burden — Bur den (b[^u] d n), n. [Written also burthen.] [OE. burden, burthen, birthen, birden, AS. byr[eth]en; akin to Icel. byr[eth]i, Dan. byrde, Sw. b[ o]rda, G. b[ u]rde, OHG. burdi, Goth. ba[ u]r[thorn]ei, fr. the root of E. bear, AS. beran, Goth.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Burden — ist der Name mehrerer Personen: Chris Burden (* 1946), US amerikanischer Künstler Hugh Burden (1913–1985), britischer Schauspieler und Dramatiker Jane Burden (1839–1914), Modell und Muse der Präraffaeliten Burden ist außerdem der Name mehrerer… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • burden — n *load, cargo, freight, lading burden vb Burden, encumber, cumber, weigh, weight, load, lade, tax, charge, saddle are comparable when they mean to lay a heavy load upon or to lie like a heavy load upon a person or thing. Burden implies the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Burden — Bur den, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Burdened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Burdening}.] 1. To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load. [1913 Webster] I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened. 2 Cor. viii. 13.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • burden — burden1 [bʉrd′ n] n. [ME birthen < OE byrthen, akin to ON byrthr, a load: for IE base see BEAR1] 1. anything that is carried; load 2. anything one has to bear or put up with; heavy load, as of work, duty, responsibility, or sorrow 3. the… …   English World dictionary

  • Burden — Bur den (b[^u]r d n), n. [OE. burdoun the bass in music, F. bourdon; cf. LL. burdo drone, a long organ pipe, a staff, a mule. Prob. of imitative origin. Cf. {Bourdon}.] 1. The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Burden — Burden, KS U.S. city in Kansas Population (2000): 564 Housing Units (2000): 236 Land area (2000): 0.526134 sq. miles (1.362682 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.009121 sq. miles (0.023623 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.535255 sq. miles (1.386305 sq. km) …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Burden, KS — U.S. city in Kansas Population (2000): 564 Housing Units (2000): 236 Land area (2000): 0.526134 sq. miles (1.362682 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.009121 sq. miles (0.023623 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.535255 sq. miles (1.386305 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • burden — ► NOUN 1) a heavy load. 2) a cause of hardship, worry, or grief. 3) the main responsibility for a task. 4) the main theme of a speech, book, or argument. 5) a ship s carrying capacity. ► VERB 1) load heavily …   English terms dictionary

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