encumbrance

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en·cum·brance

(ĕn-kŭm′brəns)

1. One that encumbers; a burden or impediment.

2. A lien or claim on property that diminishes its value or affects transfer of ownership but does not prevent such transfer.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

encumbrance

(ɪnˈkʌmbrəns) or

incumbrance

1. a thing that impedes or is burdensome; hindrance

2. (Law) law a burden or charge upon property, such as a mortgage or lien

3. rare a dependent person, esp a child

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

en•cum•brance

(ɛnˈkʌm brəns)

n.

1. something that encumbers; a burden or hindrance.

2. a child or other dependent.

3. Law. a claim on property, as a mortgage.

[1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	encumbrance - an onerous or difficult concern; "the burden of responsibility"; "that's a load off my mind" burden, onus, incumbrance, load headache, worry, vexation, concern - something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness; "New York traffic is a constant concern"; "it's a major worry" dead weight - an oppressive encumbrance fardel - a burden (figuratively in the form of a bundle) imposition - an uncalled-for burden; "he listened but resented the imposition" pill - something unpleasant or offensive that must be tolerated or endured; "his competitor's success was a bitter pill to take"
	2.	encumbrance - a charge against property (as a lien or mortgage) incumbrance charge - financial liabilities (such as a tax); "the charges against the estate"
	3.	encumbrance - any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome hinderance, hindrance, preventative, preventive, incumbrance, interference, hitch clog - any object that acts as a hindrance or obstruction impedimenta, obstruction, obstructor, obstructer, impediment - any structure that makes progress difficult speed bump - a hindrance to speeding created by a crosswise ridge in the surface of a roadway

encumbrance

noun

1. burden, weight, difficulty, load, drag, liability, obstacle, embarrassment, obstruction, albatross, millstone She considered the past an irrelevant encumbrance.

2. hindrance, handicap, restraint, inconvenience, impediment the encumbrance of an ankle-length dress

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

inconvénient

aggravio gravame

encumbrance

[ɪnˈkʌmbrəns] N → estorbo m (Fin, Jur) → carga f, gravamen m
without encumbrance (frm) → sin familia

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

encumbrance

[ɪnˈkʌmbrəns] n (= burden) → fardeau m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

encumbrance

n (also Jur) → Belastung f; (person) → Last f; to be an encumbrance to somebody (luggage) → jdn behindern; (person) → eine Last für jdn sein; (dependent, responsibility) → eine Belastung für jdn sein

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

encumbrance

[ɪnˈkʌmbr/əns] n → peso
to be an encumbrance to sb → essere di peso or di impaccio a qn

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

He failed to see any advantage in carrying about such a useless encumbrance. "That is all very well," said one of the older foxes; "but I do not think you would have recommended us to dispense with our chief ornament if you had not happened to lose it yourself."

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The quadroon nurse was looked upon as a huge encumbrance, only good to button up waists and panties and to brush and part hair; since it seemed to be a law of society that hair must be parted and brushed.

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The outer envelope might then be cast off as a useless encumbrance; and the second balloon, left free to itself, would not offer the same hold to the currents of air as a half-inflated one must needs present.

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Here was knowledge in which no one could partake; and she was sensible that nothing less than a perfect understanding between the parties could justify her in throwing off this last encumbrance of mystery.

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That, however, both their majesties would soon be made easy; for I had found a prodigious vessel on the shore, able to carry me on the sea, which he had given orders to fit up, with my own assistance and direction; and he hoped, in a few weeks, both empires would be freed from so insupportable an encumbrance."

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"Besides, do you know what is our situation, and whether Mazarin's arrest wouldn't be rather an encumbrance than an advantage?"

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He was arriving like a ghost, and the sound of his own footsteps was almost an encumbrance to be got rid of.

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Not only was here a woman who was not bent on finding a husband, but it was a woman who wasn't a woman at all; who was genuinely appalled by the thought of a husband; who joyed in boys' games, and sentimentalized over such things as adventure; who was healthy and normal and wholesome, and who was so immature that a husband stood for nothing more than an encumbrance in her cherished scheme of existence.

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She had not been able to conceal from herself that he was a terrible encumbrance, that poor Stevie.

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He said he would let Harris go for two francs; and that unless we were unusually timid, he should consider guides and porters unnecessary; it was not customary to take them, when going by telescope, for they were rather an encumbrance than a help.

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"I hope I am aware that they may be too noisy for your father or even may be some encumbrance to you, if your visiting engagements continue to increase as much as they have done lately."

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Well, my dear father, in the shipwreck of life -- for life is an eternal shipwreck of our hopes -- I cast into the sea my useless encumbrance, that is all, and I remain with my own will, disposed to live perfectly alone, and consequently perfectly free."