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Cumber vs Obstruct - What's the difference?

cumber | obstruct |

As verbs the difference between cumber and obstruct

is that cumber is to slow down, to hinder, to burden while obstruct is to block or fill (a passage) with obstacles or an obstacle. See Synonyms at block.

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

    *

    obstruct

    English

    Verb

  • To block or fill (a passage) with obstacles or an obstacle. See Synonyms at block.
  • To impede, retard, or interfere with; hinder: obstructed my progress.
  • To get in the way of so as to hide from sight.
  • Synonyms

    * See also