The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cumber \Cum"ber\ (k?m"b?r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cumbered
   (-b?rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cumbering.] [OE. combren,
   cumbren,OF. combrer to hinder, from LL. cumbrus a heap, fr.
   L. cumulus; cf. Skr. ?? to increase, grow strong. Cf.
   Cumulate.]
   To rest upon as a troublesome or useless weight or load; to
   be burdensome or oppressive to; to hinder or embarrass in
   attaining an object, to obstruct or occupy uselessly; to
   embarrass; to trouble.
   [1913 Webster]

         Why asks he what avails him not in fight,
         And would but cumber and retard his flight? --Dryden.
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         Martha was cumbered about much serving.  --Luke x. 40.
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         Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? -- Luke xiii.
                                                  7.
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         The multiplying variety of arguments, especially
         frivolous ones, . . . but cumbers the memory. --Locke.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cumber \Cum"ber\ (k?m"b?r), n. [Cf. encombre hindrance,
   impediment. See Cuber,v.]
   Trouble; embarrassment; distress. [Obs.] [Written also
   comber.]
   [1913 Webster]

         A place of much distraction and cumber.  -- Sir H.
                                                  Wotton.
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         Sage counsel in cumber.                  --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
   [1913 Webster] Cumberland

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

cumber
    v 1: hold back [syn: restrain, encumber, cumber,
         constrain]