† aˈccumber, v. Obs.
Forms: 4–5 acombre, acumbre; 4–6 acomber, acumber; 5–6 acomer, accombre; 6 accumbre, accoumbre, accomber, accumber.
[for earlier encombre (see a- prefix 10), a. OFr. encombre-r, f. en in, on + combrer, cumbrer; see cumber. Subseq. confused with words in a- :—L. ad-, and refashioned as accumber. For this the original encumber and simple cumber have again been substituted, accumber not appearing after 1600.]
To encumber, overload, oppress, overwhelm, crush.
| c 1314 Guy Warw. 118 Mete we hem ther on the doune, Acumbre hem and legge hem doune. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. ii. 50 And lat no conscience acombre þe. 1399 Dep. Rich. II, 9 Ffor they a-combrede the contre, and many curse servid, And carped to the comounes with the kyngys mouthe. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. 122 Ethelthredus..was so acomered with the Danes, that he..acorded with them to pay hem ȝerly X thousand pound. 1470 Harding Chron. lxvii. [A] greate whereafter it received the name of Hexaclinon, Octoclinon. multitude of paiens..accombred all the realme. 1477 Past. Lett. 793 III. 183, I wote not whether that the length of mater acumbred you. 1481 Caxton Reynard (1844) 43 I make my confession openly..that my soul be not acombred. 1535 Fisher Wks. 416 She was sore accombred with that open shame. 1544 T. Phaer Of the Pestilence ii. ii. Oftentimes accoumbred with manye naughtye sycknesses. 1561 T. N[orton] Calvin's Inst. i. 53 Vnlesse we listed to accomber our selues in thinges trifling and vnprofitable. 1563 Homilies ii. xv. ii. (1859) 449 Yea, being accombred with the cloaked hatred of Cain, with the long covered malice of Esau. 1580 Campion Hist. Irel. (1633) ix. 28 Unable any longer to dwell in their ships, accumbred with carriage of women and children. |