Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “incumbrance” come from?

Incumbrance comes from Old French encombrance, derived from Old French encombrer with the prefix en-, from Latin in- and Latin cumulus meaning heap, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots ne and bʰer-.

incumbrance (English): A burden; a thing that must be carried; an...

Definitions

  1. A burden; a thing that must be carried; an...

Ancestry of “incumbrance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchencombrance—
2Old Frenchencombrerto bother; to irritate; to annoy; to burden
3Old Frenchcombrewooden obstacles on a river; dam; hindrance,...
4Medieval Latincombrusbarricade of felled trees; barricade
5Gaulishkomberū—
6Proto-Celtickomberetito bring together
7Proto-Celtickom-with, together
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “incumbrance”

  • incumbrancer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →