Encumber for Dummies

Hey there! So, "encumber" is a word that means to weigh down or burden someone or something. It's like when you have a really heavy backpack and it makes it difficult for you to walk fast or move easily. In the same way, when something encumbers you, it makes it hard for you to do what you need to do because it's holding you back.

Another way to think about it is like having a lot of stuff in your hands when you're trying to open a door - all the things you're carrying are encumbering you and making it hard to turn the doorknob.

So, when we say that someone is "encumbered" by something, it means that they are being held back or slowed down by a burden or obstacle. And when something is "encumbered" in a more general sense, it means that it is restrained or weighed down in some way.

For example, imagine a snail trying to move with a really heavy rock on its back - it's encumbered by the weight and can't move as quickly as it wants to.

So, "encumber" is all about being held back or weighed down in some way, whether it's a person, an animal, or even an idea or a process. And that's the basic meaning of the word! Hope that helps you understand it better!