Hypertext Webster Gateway: "cumber"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
Why asks he what avails him not in fight, And would but
cumber and retard his flight? --Dryden.
Martha was cumbered about much serving. --Luke x. 40.
Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? -- Luke xiii.
7.
The multiplying variety of arguments, especially
frivolous ones, . . . but cumbers the memory. --Locke.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cumber \Cum"ber\ (k?m"b?r), n. [Cf. encombre hindrance,
impediment. See Cuber,v.]
Trouble; embarrassment; distress. [Obs.] [Written also
{comber}.]
A place of much distraction and cumber. -- Sir H.
Wotton.
Sage counsel in cumber. --Sir W.
Scott.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
cumber
v : hold back [syn: {restrain}, {encumber}, {constrain}]
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