Hinderance

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An obstacle or impediment that slows down or blocks progress ; the act of holding back or obstructing someone or something from moving forward
2. A barrier that gets in the way and delays advancement ; the process of impeding or preventing an action from taking place
3. Something that stands in the path and makes movement or achievement harder ; the action of obstructing or restraining another's efforts

Etymology: "Hinderance" is an older spelling of "hindrance," and the two forms have the same history. The word developed in Middle English, where it appeared in a range of spellings, including hinderance, hinderaunce, hindraunce, and hyndrance. Its structure is plain: it is built from "hinder," a verb meaning to hold back or obstruct, with the suffix "-ance," which turns a verb into a noun naming the act or result of that action. So a hindrance is, at root, the state of being held back, or the thing that holds you back. The "-ance" ending is a familiar pattern in English, found in words such as "assistance" and "performance," and it is what gives "hindrance" its noun form. The word therefore follows an ordinary English path: an existing verb with a common suffix attached. Its spelling variants simply reflect the inconsistent spelling of Middle English, before the modern form became standard.

Synonyms: obstacle, impediment, obstruction, barrier, handicap

Antonyms: help, aid, assistance, benefit, advantage