v. Obs. Forms: 4–5 acombre, acumbre; 4–6 acomber, acumber; 5–6 acomer, accombre; 6 accumbre, accoumbre, accomber, accumber. [for earlier encombre (see A- pref. 10), a. OFr. encombre-r, f. en in, on + combrer, cumbrer; see CUMBER. Subseq. confused with words in a-:—L. ad-, and refashioned as ACCUMBER. For this the original encumber and simple cumber have again been substituted, accumber not appearing after 1600.] To encumber, overload, oppress, overwhelm, crush.
c. 1314. Guy Warw., 118. Mete we hem ther on the doune, Acumbre hem and legge hem doune.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. II. 50. And lat no conscience acombre þe.
1399. Dep. Rich. II., 9. Ffor they a-combrede the contre, and many curse servid, And carped to the comounes with the kyngys mouthe.
1460. Capgr., Chron., 122. Ethelthredus … was so acomered with the Danes, that he … acorded with them to pay hem ȝerly X thousand pound.
1470. Harding, Chron., lxvii. [A] greate whereafter it received the name of Hexaclinon, Octoclinon. multitude of paiens … accombred all the realme.
1477. Past. Lett., 793, III. 183. I wote not whether that the length of mater acumbred you.
1481. Caxton, Reynard (1844), 43. I make my confession openly … that my soul be not acombred.
1535. Fisher, Wks., 416. She was sore accombred with that open shame.
1544. Phayer, Of the Pestilence, II. ii. Oftentimes accoumbred with manye naughtye sycknesses.
1561. T. N[orton], Calvin’s Inst., I. 53. Vnlesse we listed to accomber our selues in thinges trifling and vnprofitable.
1563. Homilies, II. xv. II. (1859), 449. Yea, being accombred with the cloaked hatred of Cain, with the long covered malice of Esau.
1580. Campion, Hist. Irel. (1633), ix. 28. Unable any longer to dwell in their ships, accumbred with carriage of women and children.
