BURDEN Meaning and
Definition
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Burden is a noun that refers to a heavy or oppressive load, weight, or responsibility that needs to be carried or borne by someone or something. It can be a figurative or literal weight that causes strain, hardship, or difficulty.
In a literal sense, burden can be a physical weight that needs to be lifted, carried, or transported. It can also be associated with a heavy load placed on an animal, machine, or structure. Additionally, burden can refer to a load carried on one's back, shoulders, or arms.
Figuratively, burden relates to the responsibilities, obligations, or troubles that weigh heavily on a person's mind, emotions, or conscience. It is often used to describe something that causes mental or emotional distress, such as worry, guilt, or sorrow.
Furthermore, burden can be linked to the idea of duty or obligation, particularly in terms of societal, moral, or legal expectations. It denotes the sense of responsibility or duty that someone feels towards another person, a group, or a cause.
In summary, burden encompasses the concepts of a physical weight or load, a mental or emotional strain, and a sense of responsibility or obligation. It is a multidimensional term that can be used in various contexts to describe different forms of weight, difficulty, or hardship.
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• Sometimes written burthen, something carried; a load; something grievous or oppressive; the prevailing sentiment in a song; the chorus; a ship's capacity for carrying.
• To lay on a load; to oppress.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for BURDEN *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for BURDEN
Etymology of BURDEN
The word "burden" is derived from the Old English word "byrðen", which itself evolved from the Proto-Germanic word "*burthinaz". This Proto-Germanic term is related to the Old High German word "burdi" and the Gothic word "baúrþs", both meaning "birth". The root of this word ultimately goes back to the Proto-Indo-European language, where it is believed to have originated from the word "*bʰréh₂tis", meaning "pregnancy" or "carrying". Over time, the meaning of "burden" expanded to include the figurative sense of any heavy or oppressive responsibility, duty, or hardship.
Idioms with the word BURDEN
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beast of burden
The idiom "beast of burden" refers to someone or something that carries a heavy load or responsibility, often for a prolonged period, similar to how an animal like a horse or donkey is used to carry loads for humans. It can also symbolize a person who is constantly relied upon to complete difficult or arduous tasks without complaint.
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the burden of proof
The idiom "the burden of proof" refers to the responsibility or obligation of providing evidence or proof to support one's claim or argument in a debate, trial, or any situation where a point needs to be proven or established. It suggests that the person making the assertion holds the duty to present sufficient evidence to convince others of the validity of their position.
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a beast of burden
The idiom "a beast of burden" refers to a living creature, typically a domesticated work animal such as a horse or a donkey, that is used to carry heavy loads or perform laborious tasks. However, metaphorically, it can also describe a person who is burdened with a constant and demanding workload or responsibilities.
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burden sm with sth
The idiom "burden someone with something" means to place a heavy or excessive responsibility, duty, or hardship on someone. It implies that someone is giving or forcing someone else to deal with a difficult or troublesome situation.
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burden sm or sth with sm or sth
The idiom "burden someone or something with someone or something" means to impose or inflict a difficult or excessive responsibility, duty, or problem onto a person or thing. It suggests overloading someone or something with an excessive amount of something, often leading to difficulty or hardship.
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bear the burden (of something)
The idiomatic phrase "bear the burden (of something)" means to endure or carry the responsibility, weight, or hardship of something difficult or challenging. It implies accepting and dealing with a heavy load, whether it be a physical, emotional, or metaphorical burden.
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burden of proof
The idiom "burden of proof" refers to the obligation or responsibility placed on someone to provide sufficient evidence or justification to support their claim or accusation. It is the duty of the person making an argument or presenting a case to prove their assertions with conclusive evidence or persuasive reasoning.
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burden (someone) with (something)
The idiom "burden (someone) with (something)" refers to imposing or placing a heavy responsibility, obligation, or task onto someone, often causing them difficulty, inconvenience, or stress. It implies the act of burdening someone with an undesirable or troublesome situation or requirement.
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burden someone or something with someone or something
The idiom "burden someone or something with someone or something" refers to the act of imposing a heavy responsibility, duty, or problem onto a person, situation, or object, often causing inconvenience or strain. It implies placing an additional load or difficulty onto someone or something that may already be dealing with existing challenges.
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the white man's burden
"The white man's burden" is an idiom that refers to the supposed moral responsibility of the white European and American colonizers to govern and civilize the non-white indigenous populations in their colonies during the era of European imperialism. It originated from a poem with the same title by Rudyard Kipling and signifies the belief in the mission of spreading Western ideals, culture, and civilization to "inferior" societies that were deemed culturally and morally backward. The idiom carries a connotation of paternalism and dominance, encapsulating the imperialistic mentality of the time.
Similar spelling words for BURDEN
Conjugate verb Burden
CONDITIONAL PERFECT
I
would have burdened
you
would have burdened
he/she/it
would have burdened
we
would have burdened
they
would have burdened
I
would have burden
you
would have burden
he/she/it
would have burden
we
would have burden
they
would have burden
CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
I
would have been burdening
you
would have been burdening
he/she/it
would have been burdening
we
would have been burdening
they
would have been burdening
CONDITIONAL PRESENT
I
would burden
you
would burden
he/she/it
would burden
we
would burden
they
would burden
CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
I
would be burdening
you
would be burdening
he/she/it
would be burdening
we
would be burdening
they
would be burdening
FUTURE
I
will burden
you
will burden
he/she/it
will burden
we
will burden
they
will burden
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
I
will be burdening
you
will be burdening
he/she/it
will be burdening
we
will be burdening
they
will be burdening
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have burdened
you
will have burdened
he/she/it
will have burdened
we
will have burdened
they
will have burdened
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
will have been burdening
you
will have been burdening
he/she/it
will have been burdening
we
will have been burdening
they
will have been burdening
IMPERATIVE
you
burden
we
let´s burden
to burden
PAST CONTINUOUS
I
was burdening
you
were burdening
he/she/it
was burdening
we
were burdening
they
were burdening
PAST PARTICIPLE
burdened
PAST PERFECT
I
had burdened
you
had burdened
he/she/it
had burdened
we
had burdened
they
had burdened
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
had been burdening
you
had been burdening
he/she/it
had been burdening
we
had been burdening
they
had been burdening
PRESENT
I
burden
you
burden
he/she/it
burdens
we
burden
they
burden
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I
am burdening
you
are burdening
he/she/it
is burdening
we
are burdening
they
are burdening
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
burdening
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have burdened
you
have burdened
he/she/it
has burdened
we
have burdened
they
have burdened
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
have been burdening
you
have been burdening
he/she/it
has been burdening
we
have been burdening
they
have been burdening
PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
he/she/it
burden
SIMPLE PAST
I
burdened
you
burdened
he/she/it
burdened
we
burdened
they
burdened
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