incumbrance

From Old French encombrance, from encombrer.

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈkʌm.bɹənts/

incumbrance (countable and uncountable, plural incumbrances)

1. A burden; a thing that must be carried.
   • 1749, [John Cleland], Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: Printed [by Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], OCLC 731622352:

     I was then lying at length upon that very couch, the scene of Mr. H . . .'s polite joys, in an undress which was with all the art of negligence flowing loose, and in a most tempting disorder: no stay, no hoop . . . no incumbrance whatever.

2. (law) an interest, right, burden, or liability attached to a title of land, such as a lien or mortgage.
3. (law) One who is dependent on another.

   a widow without incumbrances, i.e. without children

• encumbrance