encumbrance

• incumbrance (less common since about 1925)

From Middle English encombraunce, from Old French encombrance, from encombrer.

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈkʌm.bɹəns/, /ɛn-/, /-bɹən(t)s/

encumbrance (countable and uncountable, plural encumbrances)

1. Something that encumbers; a burden that must be carried.
   • 1912 January, Zane Grey, chapter 8, in Riders of the Purple Sage […], New York, N.Y., London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, →OCLC:

     Some consideration was necessary to decide whether or not to leave his rifle there. On the return, carrying the girl and a pack, it would be added encumbrance […]

2. Alternative spelling of incumbrance (“in law: interest attached to a title; dependent”).
3. The state or condition of being encumbered.

• encumberment

• unencumbrance

encumbrance (third-person singular simple present encumbrances, present participle encumbrancing, simple past and past participle encumbranced)

1. (law) To apply an encumbrance to (property, etc.).

• “encumbrance”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.