Encumber

When we say something encumbers us, it means that it burdens or weighs us down. It refers to a situation where we feel hindered or restricted by something. Imagine carrying a heavy backpack filled with books. The weight of the backpack encumbers your movement and makes it harder for you to walk freely. In this case, the backpack is encumbering you by creating a burden or obstacle.

In a broader sense, encumber can also refer to anything that causes difficulty or slows down progress. It could be a physical object, like a pile of clutter that encumbers your living space, or it could be a metaphorical burden, like excessive responsibilities that encumber your daily life. The word encumber comes from the Latin word “incumbere,” which means “to lie upon” or “to burden.” It carries the idea of something pressing down or hindering progress. To overcome encumbrances, we often need to find ways to lighten the load or remove the obstacles that are holding us back. It could involve decluttering our physical space, delegating tasks, or finding support from others.