/ ɪnˈkʌmbrəns; NAmE / noun
( formal ) a person or thing that prevents sb from moving easily or from doing what they want
SYN burden :
I felt I was being an encumbrance to them.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (denoting an encumbered state; formerly also as incumbrance ): from Old French encombrance , from encombrer block up, from en- in + combre river barrage.