It’s Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day today, so here is a context clues worksheet on the verb encumber. It’s used only transitively, do don’t forget your direct objects after its use.
Incidentally, in addition to meaning, as it does in the worksheet above, “weight down, burden” and “to impede or hamper the function or activity of,” encumber can also mean “to burden with a legal claim (as a mortgage).” Thus, the noun encumbrance will show up in mortgage contracts. These are all good concepts and words for informed consumers (i.e. our students) to know.
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Mark's Text Terminal 