— encumberingly , adv.
/en kum"beuhr/ , v.t.
1. to impede or hinder; hamper; retard: Red tape encumbers all our attempts at action.
2. to block up or fill with what is obstructive or superfluous: a mind encumbered with trivial and useless information.
3. to burden or weigh down: She was encumbered with a suitcase and several packages.
4. to burden with obligations, debt, etc.
Also, incumber .
[ 1300-50; ME encombren encombrer, equiv. to en- EN- 1 + -combrer, v. deriv. of combre dam, weir combrus comberos confluence, bringing together (cf. Quimper, in Brittany
Kemper ); see COM-, BEAR 1 ]