n. [ Cf. encombre hindrance, impediment. See Cuber, v. ] Trouble; embarrassment; distress. [ Obs. ] [ Written also comber. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A place of much distraction and cumber. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sage counsel in cumber. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cumbered p. pr. & vb. n. Cumbering. ] [ OE. combren, cumbren, OF. combrer to hinder, from LL. cumbrus a heap, fr. L. cumulus; cf. Skr. &unr_;&unr_; to increase, grow strong. Cf. Cumulate. ] To rest upon as a troublesome or useless weight or load; to be burdensome or oppressive to; to hinder or embarrass in attaining an object, to obstruct or occupy uselessly; to embarrass; to trouble. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why asks he what avails him not in fight,
And would but cumber and retard his flight? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Martha was cumbered about much serving. Luke x. 40. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? Luke xiii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

The multiplying variety of arguments, especially frivolous ones, . . . but cumbers the memory. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. a tributary of the Ohio River.
Syn. -- . [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. 1. Burdensome or hindering, as a weight or drag; embarrassing; vexatious; cumbrous. [ 1913 Webster ]

To perform a cumbersome obedience. Sir. P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not easily managed; as, a cumbersome contrivance or machine. [ 1913 Webster ]

He holds them in utter contempt, as lumbering, cumbersome, circuitous. I. Taylor.

-- Cum"ber*some*ly, adv. -- Cum"ber*some*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]