Forms: α. 4–5 encombraunce, (-beraunce), 4–6 encumbraunce, 4–7 encombrance, 7– encumbrance; β. 6 incomb(e)raunce, 6–7 incombrance, (7 incumberance), 7–9 incumbrance. [a. OF. encombrance, f. encombrer to ENCUMBER; See -ANCE.]
† 1. Encumbered state or condition; trouble, molestation, perplexity. Obs.
c. 1314. Guy Warw. (A.), 5509. The douke Otous … His gret encumbraunce him telde.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 265 (Wright’s text). Care & encombraunce is comen to vs alle.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 2657. So I me drede … To haue som grete encomberaunce.
1509. Fisher, Fun. Serm. C’tess Richmond (1708), 28. A lyfe voyde of all sorrow and encombrance.
1559. Homilies, I. Fear of Death, III. (1859), 103. The great encombrance which our spirit hath by this sinful flesh.
† b. Satanic temptation: = ENCUMBERMENT 1 b.
c. 1450. Merlin, 5. Wyte ye well that this is the encombraunce of the deuell.
2. concr. That which encumbers; a burden, impediment, ‘dead weight’; a useless addition; in stronger sense, an annoyance, trouble.
1535. Stat. 27 Hen. VIII., c. 3. Which … shall be a great incumberance to all such the Kinges subiectes.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut., ii. 8/1. The incomberaunces are so manie and so great, as it would bee vnpossible for vs to ouercome them, if God assisted vs not.
1653. Milton, Hirelings (1659), 95. To hire incumbents or rather incumbrances, for life-time.
1748. Anson, Voy., I. i. (ed. 4), 16. This incumbrance of a convoy gave us some uneasiness.
1764. Burn, Poor Laws, 172. Housekeepers will be freed from the intolerable incumbrance of beggars at their doors.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., ii. 35. Malign dispositions and vindictive habits are … miserable encumbrances of the mind.
1851. Mariotti, Italy, in 1848, iv. 234. The great mass of volunteers, especially Lombards, were looked upon as a mere encumbrance.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 27. 196. Divesting my limbs of every encumbrance.
3. A person dependent on another for support; esp. in phrase Without encumbrance = ‘having no children.’
1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, IV. ii. I will have no more incumbrances brought on us.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 165, § 4. 148. Left the younger sons encumbrances on the eldest.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Three Ages, III. 109. The widow … may advertise herself as ‘without incumbrance,’ to undertake any situation.
1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 28 Nov., 10/1. Coachmen and gardeners … rarely have children, or, as they say … ‘incumbrances.’
4. Law. A burden on property: ‘A claim, lien, liability attached to property; as a mortgage, a registered judgment, etc.’ (Wharton).
a. 1626. Bacon, Max. & Uses Com. Law (1636), 27. These acts are collaterall encombrances.
1642. Perkins, Prof. Bk., iv. § 269. 120. He hath this Land without encombrance of Action.
1658. Slingsby, Diary (1836), 200. That my ancient and lineally descended estate, might without incumbrance fall upon you my elder son.
1770. Junius Lett., xl. 204. You accepted the succession with all its encumbrances.
1836. Kent, Comm. Amer. Law (1873), II. xxxix. 483. If a vendor, knowing of an incumbrance upon an estate, [etc.].
