CUMBER, v.t. [G., to arrest, to concern, to trouble, to grieve.] 1. To load; to crowd.A variety of frivolous arguments cumbers the memory to no purpose.2. To check, stop or retard, as by a load or weight; to make motion difficult; to obstruct.Why asks he what avails him not in fight, and would but cumber and retard his flight.3. To perplex or embarrass; to distract or trouble.Martha was cumbered about much serving. Luke 10.4. To trouble; to be troublesome to; to cause trouble or obstruction in, as any thing useless. Thus, brambles cumber a garden or field. [See Encumber, which is more generally used.]CUMBER, n. Hindrance; obstruction; burdensomeness; embarrassment; disturbance; distress. Thus fade thy helps, and thus thy cumbers spring. [This word is now scarcely used.]
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