Cum"ber (k?m"b?r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cumbered (-b?rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cumbering.] [OE. combren, cumbren,OF. combrer to hinder, from LL. cumbrus a heap, fr. L. cumulus; cf. Skr. &?;&?; to increase, grow strong. Cf. Cumulate.] To rest upon as a troublesome or useless weight or load; to be burdensome or oppressive to; to hinder or embarrass in attaining an object, to obstruct or occupy uselessly; to embarrass; to trouble.

Why asks he what avails him not in fight,
And would but cumber and retard his flight?
Dryden.

Martha was cumbered about much serving.
Luke x. 40.

Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
Luke xiii. 7.

The multiplying variety of arguments, especially frivolous ones, . . . but cumbers the memory.
Locke.

Cum"ber (k?m"b?r), n. [Cf. encombre hindrance, impediment. See Cuber,v.] Trouble; embarrassment; distress. [Obs.] [Written also comber.]

A place of much distraction and cumber.
Sir H. Wotton.

Sage counsel in cumber.
Sir W. Scott.

• The act of slowing down or hindering
       He cumbered the investigation by the police.