encumber

UK: /ɪnˈkʌmbə^r/ US: /ɛnˈkʌmbɚ/ ,(en kum′bər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

en•cum•ber /ɛnˈkʌmbɚ/   v. [~ + object]

1. to weigh down;
   burden:
   The hiker was encumbered by a heavy backpack.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

en•cum•ber  (en kum′bər), v.t. 

1. to impede or hinder;
   hamper;
   retard:
   Red tape encumbers all our attempts at action.
2. to block up or fill with what is obstructive or superfluous:
   a mind encumbered with trivial and useless information.
3. to burden or weigh down:
   She was encumbered with a suitcase and several packages.
4. to burden with obligations, debt, etc.

Also, incumber. 

• Breton Kemper); see com-, bear¹
• Gaulish *comberos confluence, bringing together (compare Quimper, in Brittany
• early Medieval Latin combrus
• Anglo-French, Middle French encombrer, equivalent. to en- en-¹ + -combrer, verb, verbal derivative of combre dam, weir
• Middle English encombren 1300–50

en•cum′ber•ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

encumber, incumber / ɪnˈkʌmbə/ verb (transitive)

1. to hinder or impede; make difficult; hamper: encumbered with parcels after going shopping at Christmas, his stupidity encumbers his efforts to learn
2. to fill with superfluous or useless matter
3. to burden with debts, obligations, etc

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French encombrer, from en-¹ + combre a barrier, from Late Latin combrus, of uncertain origin