transitive verb
also in·cum·ber ə̇nˈkəmbə(r), en-
( encumbered ; encumbered ; encumbering -b(ə)riŋ ; encumbers )
Etymology: Middle English encombren, from Middle French encombrer to obstruct, burden, from Old French, from en- en- (I) + (assumed) combre abatis (whence Middle French combre barrier constructed in the bed of a river to hold back fish or protect the banks), perhaps of Celtic origin; akin to the source of Medieval Latin combrus abatis and to Middle Irish commar confluence; both these from a prehistoric Celtic compound whose first constituent is represented by Old Irish com- together and whose second constituent is akin to Latin ferre to carry — more at co- , bear
1.
a. : to weigh down
a man encumbered with parcels
shock troops encumbered with mortars and flamethrowers
b. : to load to excess : overburden
a summer resort … encumbered with great clapboard-and-stucco hotels — A.J.Liebling
2. : to impede or hamper the natural or requisite function or activity of
elaborate ritual encumbering international diplomacy
: hinder
a project encumbered by lack of funds
3. : to load with debts or other legal claims
encumber an estate with mortgages
Synonyms: see burden