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What is the difference between cumber and encumber?

cumber | encumber | Synonyms |

Encumber is a synonym of cumber.



As verbs the difference between cumber and encumber

is that cumber is to slow down, to hinder, to burden while encumber is to load down something with a burden.

cumber

English

Alternative forms

* cumbre (archaic)

Verb

(en verb)
  • (dated) To slow down, to hinder, to burden.
  • * Dryden
  • Why asks he what avails him not in fight, / And would but cumber and retard his flight?
  • * John Locke
  • The multiplying variety of arguments, especially frivolous ones, but cumbers the memory.
  • * 1886 , Sir Walter Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel . Pub.: Adams & Charles Black, Edinburgh; page 321:
  • the base villain who murdered this poor defenceless old man, when he had not, by the course of nature, a twelvemonth's life in him, shall not cumber the earth long after him.

    Synonyms

    * encumber

    See also

    *

    References

    *

    encumber

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to load down something with a burden
  • to restrict or block something with a hindrance or impediment
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1906 – 1921 , author= , title= , volume=1 , chapter=Encounter , passage=He [Timothy Forsyte] had never committed the imprudence of marrying or encumbering himself in any way with children.}}
  • to add a legal claim or other obligation
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * disencumber, unload, unencumber

    Derived terms

    * encumbrance * encumbrous