encumbrance
noun /ɪnˈkʌmbrəns/
/ɪnˈkʌmbrəns/
(formal)- a person or thing that prevents somebody from moving easily or from doing what they want synonym burden
- I felt I was being an encumbrance to them.
Word OriginMiddle English (denoting an encumbered state; formerly also as incumbrance): from Old French encombrance, from encombrer ‘block up’, from en- ‘in’ + combre ‘river barrage’.