Forms: α. 4–7 encomber, -bre, (5 encounbre, emcombre), 5–8 encumbre, 6– encumber. β. 6–8 incomber, incumbre, 7 incombre, incumber. See also ACCUMBER. [a. OF. encombre-r to block up, obstruct, a Com. Rom. word (Pr. encombrar, It. ingombrare):—late L. incombrāre, f. in in, upon + combrus barricade, obstacle, prob. repr. L. cumulus heap. (In Eng. the fig. uses appear much earlier than the literal.)]
1. trans. To hamper, embarrass (persons, their movements, actions, etc.) with a clog or burden. Also of things: To act as a clog or restraint upon. Also fig.
α. c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., ¶ 613. Of accidie cometh first, that a man is annoyed and encombrid for to do eny goodnes.
1600. Holland, Livy, XLIII. xxiii. 1169. They marched heavily armed and encombred.
1660. Blount, Boscobel, II. (1680), 31. He travers’d … near three hundred (miles) … encombered with a portmanteau.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. lii. 261. The royal camp was encumbered by the luxury of the palace.
1842. Bischoff, Woollen Manuf., II. 44. There were various branches of our trade which it had been thought necessary to encumber with high duties.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 408. For he could not be persuaded to encumber his feeble frame with a cuirass.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 407. The study of philosophy … may encumber him.
β 1612[?]. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., iii. (1627), 13. Schoolemasters who are incumbred with this inconuenience.
a. 1610. Healey, Epictetus’ Man. (1636), xiii. 17. Lamenesse incombers the legges, but not the resolution.
1688. in Somers, Tracts, I. 306. Such Statutes … seem to incumber what Papists think his Majesty’s Prerogative.
1726. Addison, Dial. Medals, ii. She draws back her garment … that it may not incumber her in her march.
1738. [G. Smith], Cur. Relat., II. 314. They sold their Commodities … in order to be less incombert when they should go about to conquer.
† 2. To engage involve, entangle in. Obs.
138[?]. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 70. Procuratours of þe fend to encombre [mennus soulis] in synne.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 508. And lefte his scheep encombred in the myre.
a. 1662. Heylin, Life Abp. Laud (1668), I. 134. To deliver him out of that War in which they had incumbred … him.
c. 1696. Prior, Love Disarm’d, 17, in Poems (1709), 199 (J.).
| And thrice in vain he shook his Wing, | |
| Incumber’d in the silken String. |
† 3. To cause suffering or inconvenience to. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 254. Ȝit salle Edward be encombred þorgh dame Blanche schene.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., I. xii. 37. In mannes body whan ony maladye or sekenes encombreth hit.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (1847), 51. Sometime these Courtiers them more to incumber Slepe all in one chamber.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 191/2. Greefes wherwith your mind is dailie incombred.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vii. § 7. I 4. His minde … being no wayes charged or incombred, either with feares, remorses, or scruples.
† b. Of enemies, etc.: To press hardly upon, harass, give trouble to. Obs.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, I. i. (1859), 2. To what purpoos had god formed me for to ben encombred with soo moche meschyef.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., I. xxxi. 104. The fleshe, the worlde, and the Devil … encomberithe a man.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 120. Ye shal be here encombred and assaylled.
1633. P. Fletcher, in Farr, S. P. Jas. I. (1848), 197. Much were the knights encumbered with these foes.
† c. To overcome, master; said esp. of temptations, passions, etc. Obs.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 223. That ydelnesse encombre hym nouȝt.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 267. The King … Incombred of his lustes blinde The lawe tornith out of kinde.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, II. v. (1554), 46 b. The auoutour … Thee encumbred of very force.
4. To burden with duties, obligations or responsibilities.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), II. 355. Martha is sore encumbered with much serving.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 336. It is a burthen to them to bee so employed; they cannot abide to be so encombred.
1781. Burke, Sp. Repeal. Marriage Act, X. 137. A man that breeds a family without competent means of maintenance, encumbers other men with his children.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xi. 119. Aurelia had objected to be encumbered with a stepson.
5. To burden (a person or an estate) with debts; esp. to charge (an estate) with a mortgage. [Cf. OF. encombrer to mortgage.]
α. 1632. Massinger, City Madam, I. ii. (1658), 9. I can make my wife a jointure of such lands too; as are not encombred, no annuity Or statue lying on ’em.
1729. Berkeley, Serm., Wks. 1871, IV. 639. If you were … encumbered with debt.
1843. Lever, J. Hinton, vii. (1878), 46. His large estates, loaded with debt and encumbered by mortgage.
1858. Ld. St. Leonards, Handy Bk. Prop. Law, xiv. 95. If he make a mortgage after having otherwise encumbered the estate.
β. 1677. Yarranton, Engl. Improv., 8. There being so many ways to incumber the Land privately.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 313. The new occasions and necessities … required means to be devised of charging and incumbering estates.
6. To load or fill (places, things) with what is obstructive or useless; to block up; fig. to complicate, render difficult.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3007. Thorough the breres anoon wente I, Wherof encombred was the hay.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 310. All iorneys incumbered with continuall waters.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 38. Seruetto and other like … haue encombred al things with new deceites.
1777. Priestley, Matt. & Spir. (1782), I. 34. I have not … encumbered my doctrine with … difficulties.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 129. Copper Mine River … is encumbered with shoals and falls.
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, ii. The ground about the pillar was strewed, or rather encumbered, with many large fragments of stone.
1868. Milman, St. Paul’s, 472. Newton’s monument … adorns or incumbers the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow.
1876. Green, Short Hist., vi. § 2 (1882), 276. The Statutes of Apparel … begin at this time to encumber the Statute-Book.
† 7. In pa. pple.: Constipated. Obs. rare–1.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, C iiij b. When yowre hawke is encombred in the bowillis.
† 8. ? To fold (the arms). Obs. rare–1.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. v. 174. With Armes encombred thus, or thus, head shake.
