Cumber and cumbersome

@JudyEv (342447)

Rockingham, Australia

January 7, 2023 6:58pm CST

The photo has nothing to do with the post but is of one of the lovely old pieces of furniture in our house-sit home. And I’ve just noticed you can see me in the mirror. That’s funny.

I wrote in a comment that old pianos were often big and cumbersome. I spelt ‘cumbersome’ wrongly and the spellcheck came up with ‘cumber’ as an alternative. I had no idea that ‘cumber’ was a word in its own right so I went looking and it seems it’s a verb meaning ‘to weigh down, burden, hamper, hinder or clutter’. For many years, I didn’t know ‘couth’ was a word either although I was familiar with ‘uncouth’. Do any similar instances come to mind?

21 people like this

19 responses

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (41836)

• United States

8 Jan 23

People can be ruthless, but can they be ruth? Loved your post and the photo.

6 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (47801)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

8 Jan 23

They can be ruthful.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

That's a great one and I like Ron's too. Can people be gruntled or just disgruntled?

2 people like this

@LindaOHio (182924)

• United States

8 Jan 23

@1creekgirl How are you feeling, Vicki?

3 people like this

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@LadyDuck (472258)

• Switzerland

8 Jan 23

When I read Italian magazines often I realize that there is a word I did not know existed... in fact it's not an "official" Italian word, most of the time an "Italianized" foreign word.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

That happens from time to time too.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (472258)

• Switzerland

9 Jan 23

@JudyEv - Every year there is a list of words that are officially added to the Italian Dictionary. With the modern gadgets we need to have new words officially recognized. As an example lockdown and cisgender are now recognized as a legit word to use.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

@LadyDuck I know lockdown but I'll have to look up 'cisgender'.

1 person likes this

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@allknowing (138278)

• India

9 Jan 23

I can think of 'course and 'ofcourse'

2 people like this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

Fair enough.

1 person likes this

@FourWalls (69443)

• United States

8 Jan 23

What??? You’re thinking today? No thinking on the weekends!!!

I love the woodwork on that furniture!!!

3 people like this

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@FourWalls (69443)

• United States

9 Jan 23

@JudyEv — I’ll allow it. Part of my new year’s resolutions.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

But... but... it was just idle thinking! Surely that's okay?

2 people like this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

@FourWalls Whew, that's a relief.

1 person likes this

@marlina (154130)

• Canada

8 Jan 23

Not at moment.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

I can never think of things off the cuff either. I need time to come up with answers.

1 person likes this

@RasmaSandra (81128)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

8 Jan 23

Thank you for the info, I love that buffet and yes, I can see you there in the mirror,

2 people like this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

Quite a few of the pieces here have the carved wooden fronts.

1 person likes this

@BarBaraPrz (47801)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

8 Jan 23

Yes, that is a lovely "Welsh dresser" or buffet and hutch.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

There are quite a few such pieces here. I need to get more photos of them

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (108805)

• Marion, Ohio

8 Jan 23

I guess cumber makes sense with that meaning

1 person likes this

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@wolfgirl569 (108805)

• Marion, Ohio

9 Jan 23

@JudyEv I never had

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

True. You never hear 'cumber' though, do you?

1 person likes this

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@Shiva49 (26802)

• Singapore

8 Jan 23

Nothing comes to mind readily but this has happened to me from time to time. "Uncouth" is way ahead of "couth" for sure. No one uses the latter as far as I can see.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

I can never think of things off the cuff but people have come up with some good ones.

2 people like this

@Ronrybs (19621)

• London, England

8 Jan 23

One that I wondered about was disgruntled. Can you be gruntled?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

Apparently you can be gruntled - in a good humour, content. Who'd a thought??

1 person likes this

Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (16518)

• Raurkela, India

8 Jan 23

I use those words that I am sure of their meaning.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

It never works if you only THINK you know the meaning.

1 person likes this

Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (16518)

• Raurkela, India

9 Jan 23

@JudyEv I used to refer to the dictionary often in school in school and college and so I am sure of the meaning of the words that I use.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (182924)

• United States

8 Jan 23

Can't think of anything offhand. That's a lovely piece of furniture.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

That's okay. I can never think in a hurry either.

1 person likes this

@BloggerDi (3113)

• United States

10 Jan 23

Great word post! I thought of mantle and dismantle. Their definitions are not usually related to each other at all.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan 23

Thanks. That's another good example. Probably there are lots of others.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

8 Jan 23

Such nice detail in the wood here. There are so many words similar to this but my mind will not allow me to remember right now.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

I can never think straight when I'm put on the spot either. There is quite a few pieces of furniture with the detail like this one.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

9 Jan 23

@JudyEv The detail always catches my eye. Very unique.

1 person likes this

@rebelann (113050)

• El Paso, Texas

8 Jan 23

I've never given anything like that a thought but I didn't know couth was a word on it's own either although now that I think of it that does make sense.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

I guess most 'negative' words have a positive root from which they stem.

1 person likes this

@RebeccasFarm (90571)

• Arvada, Colorado

8 Jan 23

I love these lovely old pieces Judy. None of those are cumbersome to me.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

It's strange to be in a house with no built-in robes or other furniture. It's all wardrobes, chests and movable cupboards. Well, not all as the kitchen has been updated.

@jstory07 (140352)

• Roseburg, Oregon

8 Jan 23

I like that piece of furniture in the picture it looks nice.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

I must put up photos of some of the other furniture which is very similar.

1 person likes this

@sol_cee (38219)

• Philippines

8 Jan 23

How do you pronounce cumber?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

Just leave the 'cu' off of cucumber.

@Beestring (14716)

• Hong Kong

8 Jan 23

I know "cumbersome" but I don't the word "cumber". I leaned something new. Thank you.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342447)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 23

I'd never thought about 'cumber'. I always like to learn something new and you're welcome.

1 person likes this