Obs. Also comber-, combr-, -ance, -aunce, etc. [f. CUMBER v. + -ANCE: cf. ACCUMBRANCE, ENCUMBRANCE.]
1. The action of ‘cumbering’; ? overcoming, vanquishing; or ? entanglement, temptation.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1019. To many on comyþ þarfore evyl Þurghe cumberaunce of þe devyl.
c. 1420. Metr. St. Kath. (Halliw.), 18. Thou have them fro the fendys comberauns!
1493. Festivall (1515), 33. To kepe them from combraunce of the fende that they falle not in to deedly synne.
2. The action of troubling or harassing; trouble, distress, annoyance.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 4. Kark & combraunce huge.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 265. Care and combraunce is comen to vs alle.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 89. Comerawnce, vexacio.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, i. 19. To waraunt thee … from evyl and from any combraunce.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., I. 429. Drewedes with bibill, bell and buik … Witht cruell cursing and with cummerance Thair wareit hes rycht rudlie the Romans.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 81. There is no felicitie … which is not darkened with some clowde of combrance and adversitie.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, V. xix. (1840), 275. The army will be very heterogeneous … which must needs occasion much cumbrance.
b. Trouble of mind; perplexity.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 1086. A merchalle is put oft tymes in gret comberaunce For som lordes þat ar of blod royalle & litelle of lyvelode per chaunce, And some of gret lyvelode & no blode royalle.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 37. As it is very hard to know, so doth it bring more businesse and comberance to some wittes than is expedient.
c. A cause of trouble or annoyance; a trouble.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 46. Catel and kynde witte [1393 C. XIII. 245 So couetise of catel] was combraunce to hem alle.
1570. T. Norton, trans. Nowell’s Catech. (1853), 178. The incommodities and cumbrances that light upon us in this life.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 145. Lest they take detriment from the aforesaid cumbrances.
3. The action of hindering, encumbering, or burdening, or state of being hindered, etc.; hindrance, burden, encumbrance.
1535. Coverdale, Deut. i. 12. How can I alone beare soche combraunce, and charge, and stryfe amonge you?.
1603. Drayton, Bar. Wars, III. lxi. 68 (R.). T’auoyd the cumbrance of each hindring doubt.
1621. Ainsworth, Annot. Pentat., Deut. i. 12. By your cumbrance, understand, the cumbrance that commeth unto me by you.
b. That which encumbers; an encumbrance.
1644. J. Fary, God’s Severity (1645), 26. A fruitlesse Christian is a very burthen and cumbrance to the place hee lives in.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva (1679), 5. In transplanting, and removing cumbrances.
1671. Milton, P. R., II. 454. Extol not Riches then … The wise man’s cumbrance if not snare.
