Now rare or Obs. [f. CUMBER v. + -MENT.]
1. † a. Trouble, distress (obs.); † b. Perplexity, confusion (obs.); c. Hindrance, embarrassment, entanglement.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 472. Of powere To kepe hire fro comburment.
1426. Audelay, Poems, 21. Castis awai covetyse that is cause of cumberment.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg. (1867), 56. Kepe he him from þe deuelis combirment.
1597. S. Daniel, Civ. Wars, V. x. (1599), A a 2 b. So stands thys rout in desperat comberment, Enuirond round with horror, blood, and shame. Ibid. (1599), Poet. Ess. Musophilus, F i b. Craft, wrapt still in many comberments With all her cunning thriues not.
2. That which cumbers; an encumbrance.
1840. Blackw. Mag., XLVIII. 492. ‘Will you not take off your coat?’… this elegant cumberment of the body.
