encumber

Definitions


[ɛnˈkʌmbə], (Verb)

Definitions:
- restrict or impede (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult
(e.g: she was encumbered by her heavy skirts)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘cause trouble to, entangle’; formerly also as incumber): from Old French encombrer ‘block up’, from en- ‘in’ + combre ‘river barrage’




definition by Oxford Dictionaries