Cumbrances

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Obstacles or impediments that hinder progress or movement ; burdens or difficulties that cause inconvenience or delay ; physical or metaphorical encumbrances that restrict freedom or efficiency
2. Conditions or factors that obstruct or complicate tasks ; troublesome burdens or liabilities that weigh down efforts ; hindrances that create delays or difficulties in achieving goals
3. Elements or circumstances that block or slow down action ; responsibilities or drawbacks that complicate situations ; restrictions or barriers that limit ease or success

Etymology: "Cumbrances" is the plural of "cumbrance," a noun formed from the verb "cumber" with the suffix "-ance." The verb "cumber" is the older and more widely used word, meaning to burden, block, or get in the way of someone, and "cumbrance" names the thing that does so. The suffix "-ance" is the common English ending that turns a verb into a noun for an action, state, or thing, as in "hindrance" from "hinder." The verb "cumber" has a long record in English, and its earlier senses were often physical. To cumber a space was to fill it with clutter or bulk, and a person could be cumbered with a heavy load. Over time the sense shifted toward burdens that weigh on the mind or stand in the way of progress, which is the meaning "cumbrances" carries today.

Synonyms: burdens, obstacles, hindrances, encumbrances, impediments

Antonyms: aids, helps, assists, facilitations, supports