Cumbrous

/ˈkʌmbrəs/ adjective

Definition

Awkward and heavy; cumbersome or burdensome to handle or carry.

Etymology

From Middle English 'cumbrous,' derived from Old French 'combre' (obstruction), with the suffix -ous added to create an adjective. Related to 'cumbersome,' which became the more common modern form.

Kelly Says

English loved the -ous suffix so much that we created multiple versions of the same word: cumbrous and cumbersome both mean heavy and awkward, but 'cumbersome' won the popularity contest.

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