Definition

1. Verb:
   • To impede or hinder the movement, action, or progress of someone or something; to be a burden or obstacle. The core meaning is to weigh down or hold back, creating difficulty or delay.
   • To burden with a legal or financial obligation, such as a mortgage or lien. This is a specific legal and financial usage, meaning to place a claim or charge on property.

Usage

• The verb encumber is transitive and requires a direct object (e.g., encumber or ).
• It is often used in formal, written, or descriptive contexts.
• Common collocations include: encumbered something, encumber , encumber .

Examples

• General Usage (to hinder/burden):

  • Heavy boots encumbered the hikers as they tried to climb quickly.
  • The company's growth was encumbered by excessive bureaucracy and old regulations.
  • She did not want to be encumbered with too much luggage on her trip.

• Legal/Financial Usage (to place a claim on):

  • The property is encumbered by a large mortgage.
  • The estate was encumbered with debts that took years to settle.

Advanced Usage

• "Encumbered with/by": This is the standard prepositional phrase used to indicate the source of the burden or hindrance.

  • The rescue team was encumbered by their heavy protective gear.
  • His mind was encumbered with worries.

• In a figurative sense: Can describe abstract burdens like thoughts, emotions, or responsibilities.

  • She felt encumbered by the expectations of her family.

Variants and Related Words

• Encumbrance (noun): A burden or impediment.

  • The lack of funding was a major encumbrance to the project.
  • A legal claim on an asset is also called an encumbrance.

• Unencumbered (adjective): Free from burdens or obstacles.

  • He traveled light and unencumbered.
  • She owned the house unencumbered, with no mortgage.

Synonyms

• Hinder: To create difficulties, resulting in delay or obstruction.
• Hamper: To hinder or impede movement or progress.
• Burden: To load or weigh down, literally or figuratively.
• Impede: To delay or block progress by obstructing.

Antonyms

• Facilitate: To make an action or process easier.
• Free: To release from a constraint or burden.
• Disencumber: To free from a burden or obstacle (a direct antonym formed from the same root).

Verb

1. hold back