Hindering

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To interfere with and obstruct progress by creating obstacles that disrupt the efficiency and effectiveness of actions taken
2. To impede the progression of efforts by creating barriers that disrupt smooth execution and success of activities
3. To cause delay or obstruction that prevents smooth progress or timely completion

Etymology: "Hindering" is the present participle of "hinder," so its history is really the history of that verb plus a grammatical ending. "Hinder" comes from Old English "hindrian," meaning to hold back or check someone's progress, and it belongs to a family of words related to "behind," since the basic idea is of being kept back or left at the rear. The "-ing" ending has a longer ancestry. It descends from an ancient suffix that once formed participles, and it passed through Proto-Germanic, Proto-West Germanic and Old English forms ("-ende") before reaching the later Middle English "-ynge" and modern "-ing." The ending was then attached to the verb in the usual way, so "hindering" simply describes the act of holding something back while it is happening.

Synonyms: obstructing, impeding, blocking, interfering, preventing

Antonyms: aiding, assisting, facilitating, promoting, advancing