CUMBER, verb transitive [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 10:40.

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, noun Hindrance; obstruction; burdensomeness; embarrassment; disturbance; distress.

Thus fade thy helps, and thus thy cumbers spring. [This word is now scarcely used.]