disencumber
/'disin'kʌmbə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
The gardener worked to disencumber the small stone statue from the thick, tangled vines that had grown over it.
Definition
- Verb:
- To free from a burden, impediment, or entanglement: To remove something that is encumbering, hindering, or weighing down a person or thing, thereby making them free or unburdened.
Usage
The verb "disencumber" is a formal term. It is used transitively, meaning it requires a direct object (the thing or person being freed). The object is typically a person, organization, or process. The thing being removed (the burden) is often introduced with the preposition "of."
Examples
- Verb:
- The new software will disencumber the accounting department from hours of manual data entry.
- She sold several old properties to disencumber herself of debt.
- The agreement is designed to disencumber the flow of trade between the two nations.
Advanced Usage
- "to disencumber oneself of something": A common reflexive construction meaning to deliberately free oneself from a burden.
- He sought to disencumber himself of all unnecessary responsibilities.
Variants and Related Words
- Disencumbrance (noun, rare): The act of disencumbering or the state of being disencumbered.
- Encumber (verb): The direct antonym, meaning to burden or impede.
- Heavy regulations encumber small businesses.
Synonyms
- Free: To release from a constraint.
- Rid: To make someone or something free of an unwanted person or thing.
- Extricate: To free someone or something from a constraint or difficulty (often implies entanglement).
- Unburden: To relieve of a burden.
Antonyms
- Encumber: To burden or weigh down.
- Burden: To load heavily.
- Hamper: To hinder or impede.
The gardener worked to disencumber the small stone statue from the thick, tangled vines that had grown over it.
Verb
- release from entanglement of difficulty
- I cannot extricate myself from this task