Nearby Words
verb (used with object)
1.
to hinder; hamper.
2.
to overload; burden.
3.
to inconvenience; trouble.
noun
4.
a hindrance.
5.
something that cumbers.
6.
Archaic. embarrassment; trouble.
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Cumber
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English cumbre (noun), cumbren (v.), aphetic variant of acumbren to harass, defeat; see encumber
1250–1300; Middle English cumbre (noun), cumbren (v.), aphetic variant of acumbren to harass, defeat; see encumber
Related forms
cum·ber·er, noun
cum·ber·ment, noun
o·ver·cum·ber, verb (used with object)
un·cum·bered, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To cumber
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
cumber
c.1300, "to overthrow, destroy; to be overwhelmed; to harass," apparently from Fr., 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,
EXPANDfrom combre "obstruction, barrier," from V.L. *comboros "that which is carried together," perhaps from a Gaulish word. The roots are PIE *kom (see com-) + *bher- (1) "to bear" (see infer). Weakened sense of "to hamper, to obstruct or weigh down" is late 14c.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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