encumbrance

noun. blockage

noun. bad situation

noun. goods being shipped

Word Origin & History

early 14c., from Old French encombrance, from encombrer (see encumber).

To Mrs. Beaufort a rival, to Mr. Beaufort an encumbrance on the property.

The line between an encumbrance and a purpose is not very clearly defined, is it?

The safest plan is to ascend them without too heavy an encumbrance of theories.

I will take upon myself the convincing of the encumbrance to that effect.

They are often an embarrassment and an encumbrance to it rather than a help.

It is conveniently arranged, and you soon forget it as an encumbrance.

So we carried merely our baskets—which were encumbrance enough—and what we had in our pockets.

Our knapsacks—were we going into action with their encumbrance?

Euripides considered these athletes an encumbrance on the State.

Strange indeed that time should be an encumbrance to a sage!