Discumber

/dɪsˈkʌmbər/ verb

Definition

To free or disburden someone from something heavy, cumbersome, or troublesome.

Etymology

From 'dis-' (away, removal) and 'cumber' (to burden or hamper, from Old French 'combrer'). The prefix suggests removing or taking away the burden that 'cumber' refers to.

Kelly Says

Shakespeare and his contemporaries used 'discumber' in poetry to mean 'unburden' or 'lighten the load,' but today we'd just say 'get rid of' or 'rid yourself of.' It's a genuinely useful word that disappeared from English for no good reason.

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