CUMBER

cumber. Cumber, v.t. to clog, burden, embarrrass, distract

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Cum″ber (k?m″b?r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cumbered (–b?rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cumbering.] [[OE. combren, cumbren,OF. combrer to hinder, from LL. cumbrus a heap, fr. L. cumulus; cf. Skr. �� to increase, grow strong. Cf. Cumulate.]] To rest upon as a troublesome or useless weight or load; to be burdensome or oppressive to; to hinder or embarrass in attaining an object, to obstruct or occupy uselessly; to embarrass; to trouble. Why asks he what avails him not in fight, And would but cumber and retard his flight? Dryden. Martha was cumbered about much serving. Luke x. 40. Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? Luke xiii. 7. The multiplying variety of arguments, especially frivolous ones, . . . but cumbers the memory. Locke.