ENCUMBER

v. 1 burden, weigh down, load (up or down), overload, overburden, strain, oppress, saddle, tax, overtax Encumbered with intolerable taxes, the people revolted She almost drowned because she was encumbered with her numerous petticoats. 2 hamper, impede, hinder, handicap, inconvenience, trammel, retard, slow down Though encumbered by an invalid husband, she managed to qualify as a barrister